Fashion Designer

England • London

Taurus • 11 May 1971

Christopher Bailey MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) is Chief Creative Officer of Burberry, and is responsible for the company’s overall image including all advertising, corporate art direction, store design and visuals as well as the design of all Burberry collections and product lines.

From 1994 to 1996 he was the Womenswear Designer at Donna Karan and Senior Designer of Womenswear at Gucci in Milan from 1996 to 2001. He joined Burberry in May 2001 as creative director and became chief creative director in November 2009. Bailey is credited with transforming the fortunes of the company.

In 2008, Bailey, alongside Burberry CEO Angela Ahrendts, set up The Burberry Foundation, committed to dedicating global resources to help young people realise their dreams and achieve their goals and potential through their power and creativity. The Burberry Foundation invests in select charities focused on supporting young people in the key cities in regions where the majority of Burberry employees live and work, and where they are able to participate in volunteer roles with Burberry charity partners on the ground.

Bailey also oversaw the design and development of the new 160,000-square-foot (15,000 m2) Burberry Global Headquarters at Horseferry House in London and the newly opened 68,000-square-foot (6,300 m2) Burberry Americas US Headquarters at 444 Madison in New York.

Since joining Burberry, Bailey has won numerous awards and accolades:

In 2003, he received an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal College of Art, from where he graduated in 1994.

He won Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards in 2005.

In 2006, Bailey was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Westminster, from where he graduated in 1990.

He was named Menswear Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards in 2007 and, the same year, also received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Huddersfield, Yorkshire.

In 2008 he scooped Menswear Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards.

In the November 2008 issue of Vogue, Sarah Harris documented the diary of Bailey’s Burberry Prorsum feather dress.

In 2009 Burberry shows at London Fashion Week for the first time.

In 2009 he won Designer of the Year, British Fashion Awards (UK).

In 2009 – Honorary Patron of the University Philosophical Society, Trinity College, Dublin.

In 2009 – Appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in HM Queen Elizabeth II Birthday 2009 Honours List for Services to the Fashion Industry.

Below Christopher Bailey Collection