Meet the makers at Burberry

In Walpole’s 'Meet the Makers' portfolio for the Book of British Luxury 2026/2027, we celebrate the people behind the design of the products and services that have become a global calling card for British luxury excellence. From historic hand-printed wallpaper to timeless trench coats, we speak with the highly skilled individuals who pour their passion into their respective crafts to create new British icons.

In this edition, just in time for the brand's 170th anniversary, we visit Burberry’s manufacturing site in Castleford, West Yorkshire. Here, its specialist tailors continue to craft the iconic Heritage Trench, using the house's pioneering, signature gabardine fabric woven nearby at the Burberry Mill in Keighley.

Founded in 1856, Burberry celebrates its 170th anniversary in 2026. For nearly two centuries, the brand has remained steadfast in its commitment to craftsmanship and innovation, with generations of skilled makers continually refining their craft while shaping the future of British luxury. Today, the Heritage Trench collection continues to be produced by a team of specialist tailors at the brand’s manufacturing site in Castleford, West Yorkshire. Crafted with the brand’s pioneering fabric, gabardine – woven just down the road at the Burberry Mill in Keighley – the Heritage Trench coat remains a reflection of the close collaboration, specialist expertise and enduring craftsmanship that have long defined Burberry.

“After 35 years at Burberry, I’m still proud every time I see a product come to life,” says Product Development Manager Paula Greenway. “It can sometimes feel like solving a complex puzzle, but that’s also what makes the role so rewarding.”

It’s easy to see why. Made up of more than 70 individual parts, the Heritage Trench Coat is brought to life through more than 190 separate processes that combine innovative machinery and artisanal handcraft.

“A key part of my role is ensuring that creativity and craftsmanship remain at the heart of the product, while also considering fit, construction, quality, efficiency and manufacturability,” Greenway says. Starting with a design concept or sketch, the team interpret the design, often using existing block patterns as a foundation, and develop it through both digital and traditional pattern-cutting methods. By using specialised 3D garment-simulation software, they are also able to assess fit and shape before creating samples, ensuring material excess is kept to a minimum. Once the physical prototypes are made, the garment continues to be reviewed and refined until it becomes a reflection of the original design. “Technology supports the process, but it’s the expertise and experience of the team that ultimately brings the garment to life,” she adds.

That expertise is evident at every touchpoint. In the cutting room, Production Operative Jamal Kamara demonstrates how attention to detail is vital from the start of the process.

"My role is to transform raw materials into precisely cut components ready for the next stage of production,” he explains. This begins by inspecting the fabric before carefully spreading it to ensure there’s no tension or stretching. He then uses Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software to create the most efficient cutting layout, maximising the use of fabric while making sure patterned materials, such as the Burberry Check lining, align perfectly. Once the pieces are cut, he bundles and labels them, ready to hand them over to the next team member for assembly. “Every step plays a part in ensuring each garment begins its journey with the highest level of quality,” says Kamara.

Sewing Operative Natalie Mansha attests to the fact that the quality control is maintained at every stage. “I support different areas of production to help keep everything running smoothly, while maintaining the highest standards,” she says. “That means moving between different operations throughout the day, whether that’s working on sleeves, collars, pockets, front edges or learning new skills like buttonholing, which I mastered this week.”

Having joined as a seamstress from a different industry, Mansha has been supported through Burberry’s training school in Castleford, where the training is tailored to each individual. “The trainers work with you one-to-one, helping you build your confidence and develop the skills you need, while also teaching you about Burberry’s heritage and the importance of the craftsmanship behind every product,” she says. “But beyond the training school, you learn every day from the people around you.”

For her part, Greenway speaks of a sense of pride watching apprentices and those in training flourish within the company culture, which is based on a willingness to learn and the ability to collaborate. “Burberry is built on teamwork, so being adaptable and open to new ideas is important,” she says. “Preserving traditional craft skills while embracing innovation is something I feel very privileged to be part of.”

Mansha agrees. “That culture of continuous learning has had a huge impact on me,” she adds. “While I already had some sewing experience, I quickly realised that the craftsmanship at Burberry was on another level.”

Interestingly, when asked what qualities make one most suited to working here, the word that crops up most often among the team is “curiosity”. There is a sense of striving for constant improvement, of using technology as a means to innovate while maintaining and developing the handfinishing skills that Burberry’s legacy is founded upon. And the proof, of course, is in the final product. Ultimately, Mansha says, the greatest satisfaction comes from the knowledge “that I’m creating something that people won’t just wear – they’ll keep and treasure for decades.”

Photography by Sam Walton