Burberry design codes: from gabardine to the check
Thomas Burberry founded the house in Basingstoke, England, in 1856, and developed gabardine, a tightly woven, weather-resistant cloth that became the basis of the trench coat. That outerwear heritage still shapes the clothing today: clean lines, functional details and colours drawn from the trench, such as honey, stone and navy.
The other signature is the Burberry Check, the camel, black, red and white pattern first used as a lining. On clothing it appears in two ways:
- Statement pieces, where the check covers a whole dress, shirt or skirt.
- Quiet details, such as check-lined waistbands, cuffs or pocket facings that show only when worn.
For a gift, the quieter approach is usually the safer choice unless you know the recipient already wears bold pattern. You can read more about the house as a whole on our Burberry brand guide.
Choosing Burberry pants and dresses as a gift
Pants range from tailored wool trousers and cotton chinos to relaxed track pants with check or logo trims. Tailored trousers suit someone who dresses for the office or for evenings out; chinos and drawstring styles are better for weekends and the long South African summer. Pair them in your thinking with what the person already owns, for example a crisp piece from Burberry shirts.
Dresses tend to follow the trench language: shirt dresses, belted wrap shapes, check panels and pleated skirts. A trench-inspired dress in a neutral colour works across seasons and occasions, from a Women's Day lunch to a wedding.
For cooler Highveld evenings, a fine-gauge layer from Burberry knitwear is a natural companion to either.
Sizing, care and what drives the price
Clothing is the hardest gift to size, so a few checks help:
- Look at a garment the person wears often and note its measurements, not just the size label.
- Labels may use UK, Italian or international sizing depending on the piece, so confirm which system applies.
- For trousers, waist and inseam matter most; relaxed styles are more forgiving than tailoring.
Wool and gabardine pieces are generally best dry-cleaned, while cotton styles can often be washed gently. Always follow the care label, and store check pieces away from direct sun to keep the colours clear.
Price depends on fabric, construction and how much of the check or hardware is involved. Cotton and jersey pieces sit at the lower end, tailored wool and dresses higher, with outerwear above both. As a broad, hedged guide, many Burberry garments land in the five-figure range in rand, so set a budget first and work from there. If you have a particular piece in mind, tell us what you are looking for and we will come back with options.