Burberry The Trench: Portraits of an Icon Campaign

To mark 170 years of British design, Burberry turns its lens back to the piece that defines it: The Trench. In a campaign titled Portraits of an Icon, the house presents a series of intimate black-and-white photographs—pared back, cinematic, and quietly powerful. No excess. No distraction. Just silhouette, character and legacy.

First designed by Thomas Burberry in the early 20th century, the trench has long stood as the cornerstone of the brand. Crafted from gabardine—Burberry’s pioneering, shower-resistant fabric—the coat was built for function but became a symbol of effortless refinement. Today, it remains one of the most recognisable garments in fashion.

A Cast That Defines Modern Culture

The campaign is brought to life by an intergenerational cast of global figures spanning film, music, sport and fashion. Among them: Agyness Deyn, Alva Claire, Bright, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Eberechi Eze, Erin O’Connor, Hikaru Utada, Iris Lasnet, J.Y. Park, Jack Draper, Jonathan Bailey, Karen Elson, Kate Moss, Kendall Jenner, Kid Cudi, Kristin Scott Thomas, Little Simz, Matthew Macfadyen, Reece Clarke, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Sora Choi, Teyana Taylor and Wu Lei.

Each portrait strips things back to what matters: posture, presence, personality. The trench is worn differently by each individual—belted tight, left undone, collar turned up against the wind—yet its identity remains unmistakable. That is the strength of an icon: it adapts, but never loses itself.

Black and White, Then and Now

Shot in monochrome, the campaign feels both archival and immediate. It nods to Burberry’s rich history while positioning The Trench firmly in the present. The absence of colour sharpens the focus on texture and cut—the clean line of the lapel, the structure of the shoulder, the fall of the hem.

It’s a reminder that true design does not shout. It endures.

The Trench 

Few garments bridge generations quite like Burberry The Trench. It works over tailoring. It works with denim. It works on city streets and in countryside rain alike. More than outerwear, it represents British craftsmanship, resilience and quiet confidence.

At 170 years, Burberry does not rely on nostalgia. Instead, it refines what it has always done best—creating pieces that feel as relevant now as they did decades ago.