Behind The Brand: burberry prorsum

Mr Christopher Bailey has twice been named Menswear Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards since joining Burberry in 2001. He was educated at the Royal College of Art in London where he was discovered by Ms Donna Karan, and before starting at Burberry, was a senior designer at Gucci.

Leather biker gear from the early 20th century, designed by Mr Thomas Burberry himself, was the inspiration behind the men's spring/summer 2011 Prorsum collection, which featured rugged leather jackets teamed with gabardine trousers.

The jacket is made in Italy from calfskin leather, and was washed to loosen and slightly distend the seams - giving it the distinctive 'worn in' vintage look. The leather is also over-dyed by hand. The inside of the jacket is bound with rubber to make it waterproof, enhancing its protective and functional qualities.

There are eight pockets on the front of the jacket and two internal pockets, so you won't be short of storage. The jacket has a military look, thanks to the epaulettes, belt and cuff straps. The side vents have a rivet closure.

Although Burberry is best known for its trench coats, throughout its history the brand has supplied rugged outerwear to motorcyclists, aviators and explorers. Burberry's expertise in outerwear dates right back to the label's founding in 1856.