Trench Coat: A Brief History
In 1879 Thomas Burberry, owner of an outfitters shop in England, invented a new fabric called gabardine, which was durable, breathable, and water-resistant. Tents made of this innovative fabric were made for Roald Amundsen, and outfitted with such he was able to be the first to reach the South Pole in 1911. In fact, Amundsen left a Burberry’s gabardine tent at the pole to inform his rival Robert Falcon Scott of his success.
In 1901, the British War Office commissioned Burberry to design a new officers’ service uniform, and in 1914 with the outbreak of World War I, Burberry adapted their gabardine coats for the needs and equipment of trench warfare. Thus, the trench coat was born and became very popular among British soldiers. After the war, the trench coat was introduced into civilian life as a fashionable weatherproof coat.
Years later, it would become a part of the signature look for private investigators in film noir and FBI agents investigating paranormal phenomena. It remains a classic garment in both style and function.
Sources: Burberry - http://www.burberry.com/