Yorkshire-born Christopher Bailey has become something of a household name, thanks to his sterling work as chief creative officer of Burberry, the British company he joined back in 2001. Yet Christopher is far from an overnight sensation, having previously notched up impressive fashion credentials. On completing a Master’s degree at the Royal College of Art in London (1994), Christopher worked in New York for Donna Karan from 1994 to 1996, before being hired by Tom Ford as a senior designer of womenswear at Gucci in Milan, from 1996 to 2001. At Burberry, Christopher is responsible for the direction of all product lines, as well as the definition of the company’s overall image and seasonal advertising concepts. His flagship collection is the forward-thinking Prorsum lines for men and women from which he has banished almost all trace of the hallmark Burberry check. An unerring eye for clear, bright colour and subtle innovations in tailoring have emerged as key to both menswear and womenswear collections. Developing his codes gradually, Christopher is concerned with longevity, rather than resting on the corporate laurels. Nonetheless, the designs he has produced respectfully acknowledge the Burberry heritage (the company was founded in 1856). For example, he has made no secret of his admiration for their classic gabardine trenchcoat, which for autumn/winter 2004 he abbreviated into capes, for both men and women. Renowned for his hands-on approach to design and an enthusiasm for the details, he continues to propel the brand into the 21st century with his customary passion, enthusiasm and cheerful demeanour. Burberry was the first brand to live stream its show with live comments, stream its show in 3D and also to introduce ‘click to buy’ – buying from the runway with delivery within 6-8 weeks, 3 months ahead of industry lead times. In acknowledgement of his many successes, the Royal College of Art awarded Christopher an Honorary Fellowship in 2003. He was also twice awarded Menswear Designer of the Year by the British Fashion Awards (2007 and 2008).
