Burberry has been in the spotlight recently. Due to staff cuts and a creative redirection, the British fashion house is entering a new era.
Christopher Bailey is an esteemed part of Burberry’s story. He was renowned for his eclectic and risk-taking approach to style, especially when he introduced the iconic rainbow check.
Early Days
Christopher Bailey was born in Halifax in West Yorkshire, England in 1971. He attended the University of Westminster for his BA degree followed by the Royal College of Art in London for an MA degree and graduated in 1994.
After graduating Bailey went on to work at Donna Karan as a womenswear designer for two years before moving to Gucci wear he was a senior womenswear designer. At Gucci, he worked under the creative direction of Tom Ford.
When Was Christopher Bailey At Burberry?
Bailey joined luxury brand Burberry in 2001 as design director. Three years later in 2004, he was promoted to creative director and then chief creative officer in 2009.
In 2013, he became the CEO of Burberry where he stayed in his role until 2017 when Marco Gobbetti took over the role. During this time Bailey transitioned to president of Burberry and still kept his chief creative officer position.
During his tenure at Burberry, Bailey championed digital-first strategies. These included the 'Art of the Trench' campaign, live-streamed shows, and a 'see-now-buy-now' model.
Christopher Bailey left Burberry after 17 years at the end of 2018 and Riccardo Tisci took over the creative direction of the brand. Bailey's final show for Burberry was during London Fashion Week's February shows.
His final show incorporated rainbow motifs and an exclusive rainbow check pattern, which was used on ready-to-wear items as well as accessories. This collection benefitted LGBTQI+ charities.
Christopher Bailey's Accolades
Bailey was awarded the British Fashion Awards's Menswear Designer of the Year accolade three times (in 2007, 2008 and 2013). He was also crowned Designer of the Year, in 2009, the same year he was honored with an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
He received an International Award (CFDA) in 2010 and honorary doctorates from the University of Westminster and the University of Huddersfield.
What Is Christopher Bailey Doing Now?
As of June 2025, he serves as a mentor to emerging designers from RCA as well as the University of Huddersfield. Currently, he is not working exclusively for any fashion houses.
Where To Buy Designer Accessories
Buying designer accessories online can be a great way to make some savings. When you buy at resale you get the same great quality but often at a much lower price. It is also an amazing way to find rare pieces such as limited-edition designs and items from a designer’s archives that are no longer in production.
At myGemma we stock a wide range of designer brands, such as Burberry, Chanel, Cartier, and many more. You’ll discover items at up to 80% off retail prices allowing you to access accessories that would otherwise be out of your price range.
Each item has been expertly assessed in-house for flaws as well as authenticity. In fact, authenticity is guaranteed, or your money back.
How To Sell Designer Accessories Online
If you are looking to sell or consign your designer accessories, myGemma offers the full resale experience. You can even trade in your designer items for store credit for even better returns.
The selling journey has been configured to be as simple as possible. All you have to do to get started is fill out the online form and a member of the team will be in touch with a price quote. If you decide to sell directly then payments can be made in as little as 24 hours. If you opt to consign you can earn more on your items. It is up to you whether speed of payment or the highest payment possible is your priority.
When you sell, consign, buy, or trade-in with myGemma, you are helping contribute positively towards a circular economy.
