For this new episode of your series A short history of luxury, Luxus+ takes a look at the history of the iconic and mythical rain coat par excellence, the trench coat. Worn by soldiers during the First World War before being exported to Hollywood, the trench coat is still a wardrobe staple in the 21st century.
The trench coat was originally a descendant of waterproof coats created by Scottish chemist and inventor Charles Macintosh and British inventor Thomas Hancock in the early 1820s.
Quickly adopted during the First World War, it became a marker of social distinction. Indeed, the trench coat was generally worn by officers of the rank of officer.
Burberry and the trench coat
Thomas Burberry, a Hampshire cloth merchant, founded his eponymous company in 1856 and created a lighter fabric made of a very tight, waterproof weave called gabardine. The Burberry trench coat was born and has been the company’s signature piece since 1879.
Click here to read the full article on Luxus Plus Magazine.
Featured photo : © Burberry
