Burberry is Changing

papertiger

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It's very sad that Burberry has to cut jobs at this time. Unemployment is affecting fashion in every way, everywhere and at every tier. The silver-lining is perhaps the new strategy that aims to return Burberry to quality, and especially bags.

From the Business of Fashion 14 July


"LONDON, United Kingdom — A Burberry Group Plc reorganisation will include job cuts in the British fashion brand’s head office that follow a lockdown-induced plunge in sales, according to people familiar with the situation.
The company behind the iconic trenchcoat announced last week that it would consolidate its offerings around ready-to-wear, accessories and shoes as it aims to elevate the quality of its products while becoming more agile. The reorganisation is part of a plan put in place by Chief Executive Marco Gobbetti, whose urgency has grown with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
The revamp will lead to an unspecified number of job cuts in the London head office, according to people familiar with the situation. Burberry employs just over 10,000 people and did not furlough any of its UK staff during the pandemic.
Burberry declined to comment on any potential job eliminations. The reorganisation is about ensuring “we have the right structures in place for the next phase of our strategy,” a representative said in an emailed statement, adding that it is “designed to enhance our product focus and enable us to be more agile and more specialised, ultimately bringing us closer to our customer and driving luxury standards.”
The news comes as Burberry is set to report first-quarter sales on Wednesday, with analysts estimating a decline of 49 percent.
Gobbetti has sought to turn around Burberry with a strategy that includes an expansion of its handbag offerings, a lucrative business for peers like LVMH’s Louis Vuitton and Hermes International that’s typically been more resilient than apparel during crises.
The turnaround strategy has rested largely on the shoulders of star designer Riccardo Tisci, formerly of French fashion house Givenchy, who joined Burberry in 2018. But the pandemic has hit these efforts, with most of the stores closed since the start of the year.
By Angelina Rascouet and Deirdre Hipwell"
 
I went into a Burberry store to look at handbags before March, and I have to say that I just wasn't drawn to any of the bags there. I do like some of their older styles, specifically the older Banner bag and the Camberley bag with the grainy leather and the house check fabric. If they are going to further expand their handbag offerings with a focus on quality, it will be interesting to see if they come out with bags in new styles or with a modified logo.
 
I went into a Burberry store to look at handbags before March, and I have to say that I just wasn't drawn to any of the bags there. I do like some of their older styles, specifically the older Banner bag and the Camberley bag with the grainy leather and the house check fabric. If they are going to further expand their handbag offerings with a focus on quality, it will be interesting to see if they come out with bags in new styles or with a modified logo.

Your Camberley sounds great.

I bought a fabulous pea coat in March just before lockdown (actually DH bought it for me - rare occurrence!). I didn't even look at the new bags (I have 4 from years ago). The last time I looked for myself was 2004!!!!

I hope they get rid of that HUGE TB, Burberry check is unmistakable.

I'd like some more robust bags, utility/military style.
 
The silver-lining is perhaps the new strategy that aims to return Burberry to quality, and especially bags.
I sure hope so. I haven't checked in on Burberry since Tisci's early days at the house. The clothes seem alright but the bags are really underwhelming. And I'm not a fan of the giant typographic prints or the updated logo. I'm still kicking myself on missing out on personalising a Christopher Kane poncho as a gift for my mom.
 
I sure hope so. I haven't checked in on Burberry since Tisci's early days at the house. The clothes seem alright but the bags are really underwhelming. And I'm not a fan of the giant typographic prints or the updated logo. I'm still kicking myself on missing out on personalising a Christopher Kane poncho as a gift for my mom.

RT is a good designer and I love Italian style generally (loving your 1955 avatar BTW) but IMO they also lost a lot of the heritage/'Britishness'/USP of the brand.

The ponchos were great - and the introduction of the little bears.
 
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RT is a good designer and I love Italian style generally (loving your 1955 avatar BTW) but IMO they also lost a lot of the heritage/'Britishness'/USP of the brand.

The ponchos were great - and the introduction of the little bears.
The bears were absolutely darling!:love: They captured Burberry's unique charm quite perfectly.

A zebra print 1955 is definitely a strong Italian statement piece, lol. :lol: And I LOVE The Man Who Fell to Earth. :coolio:
 
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Your Camberley sounds great.

I bought a fabulous pea coat in March just before lockdown (actually DH bought it for me - rare occurrence!). I didn't even look at the new bags (I have 4 from years ago). The last time I looked for myself was 2004!!!!

I hope they get rid of that HUGE TB, Burberry check is unmistakable.

I'd like some more robust bags, utility/military style.
Thank you! I find the Camberley to be a cute looking bag and very easy to wear. Your pea coat sounds great! Would love to see pictures if possible, as I am somewhat obsessed with coats. :smile:

Agree on the huge TB logo; I'm not a fan either. I would like to see more of the older style Banner bag in different colors come back (or even newer style bags using that distinctive grainy leather), but they need to make sure the corners are more sturdy.
 
Thank you! I find the Camberley to be a cute looking bag and very easy to wear. Your pea coat sounds great! Would love to see pictures if possible, as I am somewhat obsessed with coats. :smile:

Agree on the huge TB logo; I'm not a fan either. I would like to see more of the older style Banner bag in different colors come back (or even newer style bags using that distinctive grainy leather), but they need to make sure the corners are more sturdy.

I can't believe I don't have a better picture but I think I was trying to take a pic of the scarf rather than the coat. I will take a better picture when the weather cools again for you.

It's basically black wool/cashmere and black leather trim. Quite a lot of leather, but impossible to see from this pic.

IMG_20200506_192032_resized_20200716_020655772.jpg
 
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I can't believe I don't have a better picture but I think I was trying to take a pic of the scarf rather than the coat. I will take a better picture when the whether cools again for you.

It's basically black wool/cashmere and black leather trim. Quite a lot of leather, but impossible to see from this pic.

View attachment 4789976
Thank you -- it looks great! Black wool/cashmere and black leather trim sounds lovely. I can see the quality of the fabric from the picture. Although long coats have been very popular the past few seasons, I have to say I am a big fan of mid-length coats and pea coats as well, especially when they hit just below the hip.
 
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I think Burberry as a whole needs to have a good hard look at the product they are putting out.

Even at the flagship store, I felt that there was a huge lack of made in UK/Italy products and the runway line feels less exciting than what was offered under the prorsum label.

Personally, I’ve had more luck in recent years with Canali & Etro as a substitute for my Prorsum cravings.
 
I think Burberry as a whole needs to have a good hard look at the product they are putting out.

Even at the flagship store, I felt that there was a huge lack of made in UK/Italy products and the runway line feels less exciting than what was offered under the prorsum label.

Personally, I’ve had more luck in recent years with Canali & Etro as a substitute for my Prorsum cravings.
Yes! Prorsum was amazing.
 
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I went into a Burberry store to look at handbags before March, and I have to say that I just wasn't drawn to any of the bags there. I do like some of their older styles, specifically the older Banner bag and the Camberley bag with the grainy leather and the house check fabric. If they are going to further expand their handbag offerings with a focus on quality, it will be interesting to see if they come out with bags in new styles or with a modified logo.
I really don't like the new logo. Nothing about it signifies classic Burberry, and I think they have spent too much time trying to entice younger buyers to the brand. It is working to their detriment.
 
I really don't like the new logo. Nothing about it signifies classic Burberry, and I think they have spent too much time trying to entice younger buyers to the brand. It is working to their detriment.
I wish they hadn't moved so far away from their classic style and heritage in terms of the design and overall aesthetic of their bags. I agree that they need to take a good look at the product they are putting out, maybe re-evaluate the overall aesthetic, and hopefully get rid of that huge new logo.
 
I really don't like the new logo. Nothing about it signifies classic Burberry, and I think they have spent too much time trying to entice younger buyers to the brand. It is working to their detriment.
I wish they hadn't moved so far away from their classic style and heritage in terms of the design and overall aesthetic of their bags. I agree that they need to take a good look at the product they are putting out, maybe re-evaluate the overall aesthetic, and hopefully get rid of that huge new logo.
A lot of the new styles appear tacky for me. Not a fan of RT’s designs. Not surprised by this but I hope they look into this matter and not just attribute it to the pandemic

I’m glad I’m the only one who thinks this way.

I am gonna be honest, but, ever since Tisci became the head designer, I haven’t been really fond of Burberry. I used to like Chris Bailey’s work, the were chic and classy. Ever since Tisci assumed his position, I haven’t bought anything from Burberry, because it all seems trendy for me.

I am not talking about the material, cause bailey used to use all kinds of leather on his accessories and clothes, and Tisci uses a lot of sintetic fabric, but the designs were classier.

Now, they caught the eye of the younger generation, but, what’s next? It won’t endure the way it’s going. Logomania won’t last forever.

Also, they never had a traditional bag style, like LV has Speedy and Neverfull, Chanel has the classic flap and Fendi has tbe Peekaboo.

I hope, in the near future, they invest a little more on lasting styles and not just really trendy and dated products.
❤ Burberry
 
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