Burberry’s British Heritage
Burberry was founded in 1856 by 21-year-old Thomas Burberry, who sought to develop protective garments shielding people from Britain’s rainy weather. Today, we recognize this heritage brand for its trench coats, a wartime creation turned fashion essential, and its beige, black, red and white plaid known as Burberry check.
In 1879, Thomas Burberry invented gabardine fabric, a durable, weatherproof material perfect for braving the U.K.’s wet climate. Unlike typical rainwear available at the time, Burberry’s material was lightweight, breathable and on the precipice of revolutionizing the industry. Famed turn-of-the-century explorers favored Burberry’s garments when embarking on boundary-pushing expeditions like journeying to the Arctic Circle or taking off on a long-distance hot air balloon ride. Burberry’s successful innovations spanning more than 150 years, from gabardine fabric to the Burberry trench coat, have allowed the House to grow into the global fashion brand we know today.
Materials and Craftsmanship of the Burberry Handbag
Aside from gabardine, Burberry is famous for its check print, which originated as the lining for its signature trench coats. Burberry now applies the check pattern to various materials and items, from swimsuits to baby clothing to classic handbags fashioned in cotton, leather or even cashmere.
Collectors can easily identify the plaid by the black, red and white checks set over a neutral background, a colorway known as archive beige. Modern color interpretations of the vintage check include charcoal, dark birch brown, dark cerulean blue, navy and parade red, among many others.
Signature Burberry Bags
Burberry’s vast catalog encompasses virtually every sort of carryall imaginable, and even some not commonly seen, like its vintage check and a leather water bottle holder. Whether searching for a belt bag (also called a bum bag), bucket bag, crossbody, mini bag, shoulder bag or tote, Burberry is sure to have the perfect model to complement your collection. Signature Burberry handbag collections include the Pocket bag, the TB bag, the Lola and the Olympia. Burberry crafts its handbags using luxurious lambskin, leather, canvas, coated cotton and wool.
Burberry’s Pocket Bag
An archival tote silhouette available in East/West and North/South formats defines the functional Pocket bag. The House uses Italian-tanned topstitched leather or quality canvas to construct the bag and finishes it with polished gold- or silver-tone hardware. It also features distinctive; sculptural leather handles with large oval cutouts allowing for in-hand portability. Pocket bag styles incorporate a removable strap for wearing on the shoulder or crossbody. True to its name, a magnetic snap pocket accentuates the front of these striking Burberry pocketbooks. Leather Pocket bags spotlight a subtle metallic-embossed logo on the front pocket, while canvas-and-leather Pocket bags display a prominent matte text logo. Look for mini, small and medium editions of the Burberry Pocket bag.
Burberry’s TB Bag
A polished gold- or silver-tone metal Thomas Burberry Monogram clasp or magnetic closure distinguishes the elegant and refined Burberry TB bag. Burberry produces these bags in upscale fabrics such as quilted lambskin, canvas trimmed with colored leather, or flocked, grainy and woven leathers. The TB bag conveys classic style with its structured fold-over flap silhouette and comes in small, medium and mini sizes. It's perfect for everyday wear.
Burberry’s Lola Bag
Burberry’s Lola flap bag plays up its youthful and rebellious personality with bold details cast on small, medium or mini rectilinear silhouettes. The Lola bag comes in many fun fabrications, like striking windowpane plaid quilted lambskin or velvet, graffiti-print cotton, striped wool or vibrant yellow tartan, to name a few. It features a gleaming metal TB monogram clasp and typically has a gold- or silver-tone chain strap that’s perfect for days or nights for an eye-catching style.
Burberry’s Olympia Bag
The first thing collectors notice about Burberry’s Olympia bag is its distinctively slim and structured crescent silhouette. It's available in small, medium and mini sizes plus various fabrications, including canvas, leather, mirror-embellished suede, smooth or quilted lambskin and tartan.
Burberry’s Olympia collection comes in two bonus silhouettes: the bum bag, also known as a belt bag or fanny pack, and the Double Olympia. Both of which feature the characteristic half-moon shape. The Double Olympia bag is nearly identical to the Olympia with the addition of a removable semi-circular wristlet perched on a leather strap extending across the bag’s front construction. A metallic gold- or silver-tone embossed logo stamps most Burberry Olympia styles with a touch of shine.
Burberry Handbags’ Value and Collectibility
Depending on the style, materials and age, the value of Burberry handbags differs widely across resale marketplaces. Searches for Burberry clothing and accessories are trending upward, so savvy collectors might wisely anticipate genuine Burberry pieces becoming excellent investments. In early 2021, Burberry Lola shoulder bags often fetch more than $1,000 on the resale market, while small-sized TB bags sell for around $1,100.