Ep. 16 THOMAS BURBERRY

09/30/18 • 67 min

"There's no such thing as bad weather just bad clothing".

This is not just the story of how I fell in love with a 'brand' in 3 minutes, but a tale of passion, purpose, love, loss, tragedy and adventure. In this special episode I dig deep into the archives to discover the real story behind Thomas Burberry in an effort to try and understand what made him tick.

What I discovered was not what I expected. A far cry from the $5Bn luxury fashion house you see today, Burberry not only had very humble beginnings, but it was built upon an invention that was discovered by accident in a farmers field. That innovation made it possible for explorers, pioneers and adventurers to go further and higher than anyone else had ever gone.

If you are interested in fashion, the process of innovation, branding, entrepreneurship or just good old fashioned storytelling, this episode might be just what you've been looking for.

LINKS

TIMELINE

1835 Born Thomas Burberry was born in 1835 in Brockham Green, Surrey.
1856 (Age 21) The Burberry fashion house was founded in 1856 in Basingstoke in Hampshire, UK, by Thomas Burberry, who was at the time an apprentice draper. As a specialist in outdoor sportswear, the designer quickly established a wealthy clientele who devoted themselves to hunting and fishing. Burberry was founded on the principle that clothing should be designed to protect people from the British weather.
1861 the census reveals that he was employing in his shop 7 men, 3 boys and 7 females.
Burberry began to researching and experimenting with materials to produce fabrics which were weatherproof and suitable for clothing customers who enjoyed the country pursuits of fishing, hunting and riding.
The company developed rapidly and in 1870, Thomas Burberry is described as a "draper and manufacturer employing 80 hands".
1879 almost Ten years later the designer invented gabardine, after a fruitless search for an alternative to rubber (Aquascutum), which was the only waterproof material known at the time. his innovative research and design resulted in a breathable, weatherproof and tear-proof fabric called Gabardine. The material was light and ventilated, but protected the wearer from the extremes of the weather. The material's success as a lighter and more comfortable alternative to rubber, allowed the Burberrys line (the “s” had not yet been dropped at the time)
Thomas Burberry invents gabardine – the breathable, weatherproof and hardwearing fabric revolutionising rainwear – which up until then had typically been heavy and uncomfortable to wear.
Thomas Burberry soon lobbied well-known British generals to adorn his gabardine. the Minister of Defense put Thomas Burberry in charge of creating new uniforms for the officers of the British Army. Thomas Burberry then invented the Tielocken, a water resistant coat in gabardine that is considered the ancestor of today’s trench coat.
1881 His business expanded further and clearly he was making money. He moved to a house in Basingstoke which had 160 acres, staffed with a number of servants, and a governess to look after his six children (1881 census).
1888 Gabardine patented (9 years later - SLOW - Why? Purpose? Commercial intent?)
1891 The company expanded with a shop opening in Haymarket, London, in 1891, and in Reading, Manchester, Liverpool, and Winchester. Burberry's products were also sold through thousand...

"There's no such thing as bad weather just bad clothing".

If you are interested in fashion, the process of innovation, branding, entrepreneurship or just good old fashioned storytelling, this episode might be just what you've been looking for.

LINKS

TIMELINE

1835 Born Thomas Burberry was born in 1835 in Brockham Green, Surrey.
1856 (Age 21) The Burberry fashion house was founded in 1856 in Basingstoke in Hampshire, UK, by Thomas Burberry, who was at the time an apprentice draper. As a specialist in outdoor sportswear, the designer quickly established a wealthy clientele who devoted themselves to hunting and fishing. Burberry was founded on the principle that clothing should be designed to protect people from the British weather.
1861 the census reveals that he was employing in his shop 7 men, 3 boys and 7 females.
Burberry began to researching and experimenting with materials to produce fabrics which were weatherproof and suitable for clothing customers who enjoyed the country pursuits of fishing, hunting and riding.
The company developed rapidly and in 1870, Thomas Burberry is described as a "draper and manufacturer employing 80 hands".
1879 almost Ten years later the designer invented gabardine, after a fruitless search for an alternative to rubber (Aquascutum), which was the only waterproof material known at the time. his innovative research and design resulted in a breathable, weatherproof and tear-proof fabric called Gabardine. The material was light and ventilated, but protected the wearer from the extremes of the weather. The material's success as a lighter and more comfortable alternative to rubber, allowed the Burberrys line (the “s” had not yet been dropped at the time)
Thomas Burberry invents gabardine – the breathable, weatherproof and hardwearing fabric revolutionising rainwear – which up until then had typically been heavy and uncomfortable to wear.
Thomas Burberry soon lobbied well-known British generals to adorn his gabardine. the Minister of Defense put Thomas Burberry in charge of creating new uniforms for the officers of the British Army. Thomas Burberry then invented the Tielocken, a water resistant coat in gabardine that is considered the ancestor of today’s trench coat.
1881 His business expanded further and clearly he was making money. He moved to a house in Basingstoke which had 160 acres, staffed with a number of servants, and a governess to look after his six children (1881 census).
1888 Gabardine patented (9 years later - SLOW - Why? Purpose? Commercial intent?)
1891 The company expanded with a shop opening in Haymarket, London, in 1891, and in Reading, Manchester, Liverpool, and Winchester. Burberry's products were also sold through thousand...

Previous Episode

Ep. 15 TAYLOR SWIFT

"Happiness and confidence are the prettiest things you can wear".

After a short break Ten Words returns with an epic 80 minute episode on one of the world's most influential women (TIME) and a singer who many (including Rolling Stone Magazine) also call, one of the greatest song writers of all time.

In this episode we look at the attitude that made her famous, why her fans love her SO much, how she writes her songs and why she is the queen of the one-note melody. There is also a bonus section at the end where I deliver a short marketing lesson!

SHOW NOTES

VOGUE'S 73 QUESTIONS

1. What’s your favorite movie? 2. Favorite movie in the past five years? 3. Favorite Hitchcock film? 4. A book you plan on reading? 5. A book that you read in school that positively shaped you? 6. Favorite TV show that’s currently on? 7. On a scale of one to ten how excited are you about life right now? 8. iPhone or Android? 9. Twitter or Instagram? 10. Who should EVERYONE be following right now? 11. What’s your favorite food? 12. Least favorite food? 13. What do you love on your pizza? 14. Favorite drink? 15. Favorite dessert? 16. Dark chocolate or milk chocolate? 17. Coffee or tea? 18. What’s the hardest part about being a mum? 19. What’s your favorite band? 20. Favorite solo artist? 21. Favorite song? 22. If you could sing a duet with anyone, who would it be? 23. If you could master one instrument, what would it be? 24. If you had a tattoo, where would it be? 25. To be or not to be? 26. Dogs or cats? 27. Bird-watching or whale-watching? 28. Best gift you’ve ever received? 29. Best gift you’ve ever given? 30. Last gift you gave a friend? 31. What’s your favorite board game? 32. What’s your favorite country to visit? 33. What’s the last country you visited? 34. What country do you wish to visit? 35. What’s your favorite color? 36. Least favorite color? 37. Diamonds or pearls? 38. Heels or flats? 39. Pilates or yoga? 40. Jogging or swimming? 41. Best way to de-stress? 42. If you had one superpower, what would it be? 43. What’s the weirdest word in the English language? 44. What’s your favorite flower? 45. When was the last time you cried? 46. Do you like your handwriting? 47. Do you bake? 48. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? 49. What is your most favorite thing about yourself? 50. Who do you miss most? 51. What are you listening to right now? 52. Favorite smell? 53. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? 54. Who was the last person you sent a text to? 55. A sport you wish you could play? 56. Hair color? 57. Eye color? 58. Scary film or happy endings? 59. Favorite season? 60. Three people alive or dead that you would like to have dinner with? 61. Hugs or kisses? 62. Rolling Stones or the Beatles? 63. Where were you born? 64. What is the farthest you have been from home? 65. Sweet or savory? 66. Lipstick or lip gloss? 67. What book have you read again and again? 68. Favorite bedtime story? 69. What would be the title of your autobiography? 70. Favorite sound? 71. Favorite animal? 72. Who is your girl crush? 73. Last photograph you took?

Next Episode

Ep. 17 BRENE BROWN

"Connection is what gives purpose and meaning to our lives".

Brené Brown is a Texan researcher storyteller, and she is one of the most reluctant public speakers you will come across. Ironic considering that she's now a global phenomenon around the topic of vulnerability, the author of several New York Times best selling books and the star of one of the most watched TED talks of all time.

In this episode I look behind the scenes at what made her talk such a huge success, and I get completely caught up with the work which she feels compelled to share with the world. It's a heavy topic and a tricky one to navigate in such a short talk, but Brené manages to make the audience laugh 22 times in just 19 minutes! When they say that the best way to make an audience remember is to make them laugh, it is no wonder this became one of the most watched TED talks of all time.

Whether you are interested in "The Power of Vulnerability", want to become a better public speaker yourself, or maybe (like me) you just adore Brené Brown, there is something in this episode for everyone.

Enjoy.

SHOW LINKS

"The Power of Vulnerability" TED talk
Brené's 99U keynote
IBM Watson Personality Insights API Link for you to play with
IBM Watson Tone Analyzer
Brené's website
Marie Forleo + Brené Brown
Follow Brené on Linkedin
Follow Brené on Twitter

MY NOTES

IBM WATSON ANALYSIS OF BRENE'S TED TALK

FOR MORE INSPIRATION

BRENÉ'S TED TALK (FULL TRANSCRIPT)

So, I'll start with this: a couple years ago, an event planner called me because I was going to do a speaking event. And she called, and she said, "I'm really struggling with how to write about you on the little flyer." And I thought, "Well, what's the struggle?" And she said, "Well, I saw you speak, and I'm going to call you a researcher, I think, but I'm afraid if I call you a researcher, no one will come, because they'll think you're boring and irrelevant."

And I was like, "Okay." And she said, "But the thing I liked about your talk is you're a storyteller. So I think what I'll do is just call you a storyteller." And of course, the academic, insecure part of me was like, "You're going to call me a what?" And she said, "I'm going to call you a storyteller." And I was like, "Why not 'magic pixie'?"

I was like, "Let me think about this for a second." I tried to call deep on my courage. And I thought, you know, I am a storyteller. I'm a qualitative researcher. I collect stories; that's what I do. And maybe stories are just data with a soul. And maybe I'm just a storyteller. And so I said, "You know what? Why don't you just say I'm a researcher-storyteller." And she went, "Ha ha. There's no such thing."

So I'm a researcher-storyteller, and I'm going to talk to you today -- we're talking about expanding perception -- and so I want to talk to you and tell some stories about a piece of my research that fundamentally expanded my perception and really actually changed the way that I live and love and work and parent.

And this is where my story starts. When I was a young researcher, doctoral student, my first year, I had a research professor who said to us, "Here's the thing, if you cannot measure it, it does not exist." And I thought he was just sweet-talking me. I was like, "Really?" and he was like, "Absolutely." And so you have to understand that I have a bachelor's and a master's in social work, and I was getting my Ph.D. in social work, so my entire academic career was surrounded by people who kind of believed in the "life's messy, love it." And I'm more of the, "life's messy, clean it up, organize it and put it into a bento box."

And so to think that I had found my way, to found a career that takes me -- really, one of the big sayings in social work is, "Lean into the discomfort of the work." And I'm like, knock discomfort upside the head and move it over and get all A's. That was my mantra. So I was very excited about this. And so I thought...