by Adria Mirabelli
Simply titled “Burberry”, the brand is set to release a 252-page book chronicling the company’s history that spans from 1856 to 2022.
The house of Burberry has been at the front of our minds since it was announced in 2022 that Daniel Lee (formerly of Bottega Veneta) would be taking over as Creative Director as of October 2023.
Following Lee’s first collection presentation at London Fashion Week in February 2023, Burberry will be releasing a book chronicling the history of the 165-year-old brand. The volume is set to be released on March 28th and is currently available for pre-order online.
Written by Alexander Fury and published by Assouline, it will span five chapters of history, images and illustrations.
Thematically, the release feels in line with the brand's new approach since appointing Daniel Lee. As we have seen both in Lee’s first marketing campaign and the debut FW23 collection with Burberry, there is a clear acknowledgement of the deep British history of the brand - working in tandem with a contemporary reshaping.
On the precipice of aesthetic and conceptual change within the brand under Lee’s leadership, the release of “Burberry” is a timely summation of the brand’s legacy from its founding in 1856 to today. The volume aims to exhibit and explain Burberry’s most iconic codes, its history of craftsmanship and its connection to British culture.
Burberry’s FW23 ready-to-wear debut show by Daniel Lee was met with a lot of excitement and anticipation for how the designer would approach the heritage brand.
Eagerness to see the collection was due both to Lee’s immense commercial success at Bottega Veneta and the simplistic visuals that Burberry began dropping on social media after his announcement - importantly featuring the fashion house's updated logo.
Lee's contemporary reframing of the brand includes reinterpretations of the iconic Burberry tartan, the trench coat, the concept of the “English rose”, and the country's key punk subculture - just to name a few. We saw thoughtful uses of prints, colours and textures presented in unexpected scales.
A Northern-born designer, Lee's perspective within the house of Burberry is to shape the iconic and well-known styles associated with the brand and make them more beautiful, interesting and relevant.
As the brand continues to be shaped by Lee’s expert and imaginative eye, Burberry’s new book release offers the public an opportunity to learn more about its history and icons.
While fans of Lee’s designs tend to be younger, this release allows the brand to reintroduce itself while further contextualizing to a whole new generation and sets the stage for Lee’s work at Burberry.