Here at The Hoxton Trend HQ, we’ve always been curious about the Burberry Outlet located on Chesham Place in Hackney. Positioned on a backstreet in a truly unique and iconic building, we wondered why this location was chosen. So, we delved into the past and were pleasantly surprised to uncover some fascinating historical facts.
Although this information was new to us, it wasn’t shocking to learn that Hackney was once considered an epicentre of garment production and trade, thanks to its proximity to the City of London. This made it an ideal location for manufacturers and wholesalers. From the 1900s to the early 1990s, workshops and factories in Hackney produced vast amounts of clothing and footwear for both domestic and international markets.
One notable manufacturer in this area was Burberry.
Burberry established their factory on Chesham Place in East London in the early 1950s. The factory became a hub for producing and wholesaling garments worldwide, with many local residents forming the skilled workforce behind the production. This facility was a key player in the early development of Burberry, which has since become one of the UK’s most luxurious fashion brands, epitomising British style globally.
At its peak, the factory employed 315 staff members, and it was said that one in five Burberry products at the time were manufactured right here in London’s East End.
Former staff members recall that the factory would hold sales events, allowing locals to purchase items at substantial discounts. This tradition likely influenced the decision to maintain an outlet store in this location to this day. Some of our followers shared additional insights:
– @lucasmoreno5330 wrote,
“Up until the ’80s, the UK had a manual worker manufacturing base. Today, a skilled worker in London needs to earn £50k per year. If Burberry were to relocate their manufacturing base back to the UK, the increase in labor costs would be substantial. Burberry Group plc’s primary objective is to return profits to shareholders, which necessitates maintaining the lowest possible manufacturing costs. HOX, you’re a smart guy and already know this.”
@bash1717 reminisced,
“Me and the boys used to go there from school back in ’97. From Holloway Boys to Hackney, and there was also a YSL factory on Seven Sisters Road behind Hornsey Baths. £30 for polos and jeans, which I still have to this day, though I can’t fit into size 28s anymore.”
– @markkennedy83 added,
“Burberry used to have stores across the country. There was one in Glasgow city center in the late ’90s, and I’m sure there was an outlet in York in the early to mid-2000s.”
– @hughmcneillie103* shared,
“The Burberry store in Glasgow was on Buchanan Street, the second busiest shopping street in the UK after Oxford Street in London. I remember buying Nova check lambswool scarves in camel and navy during a sale and selling them for about triple the money a few years later. Result!”
– @markynorthy1878 recalled,
“Back in the late ’80s, I ran with some hooligans in Sheffield. Some guys had Burberry golf jackets—if you had one of those, you were seen as a top boy or rich. If you turned the collars up, it had the Burberry pattern on the inside; it was wicked… another top video.”
Unfortunately, production at the Hackney factory ceased in the early ’90s, and by the mid-’90s, the factory closed altogether. This closure was part of a broader trend, as many manufacturers began moving production overseas, primarily to China, to reduce costs.
Despite the factory’s closure, the Burberry Outlet opened in 1997, serving as a nod to its historical past. Today, the outlet still stands and reportedly attracts over 100,000 visitors each year from across the UK and around the world, particularly from the Far East. It’s not uncommon to see tour coaches bringing in shoppers eager to snag a deal on Burberry essentials.
You can watch our full video covering this fascinating history on our YouTube channel.
You can watch the full video of these remarkable collectors and their collections on our YouTube channel.
You can also watch out Bicester Village Burberry Outlet Video Below
