The History of the Trench Coat: From Battlefield to Wardrobe Staple

The trench coat's story begins on the battlefields of the First World War, where British officers needed a coat that could withstand rain and mud without the weight of a traditional wool greatcoat. Gabardine — a tightly woven, water-resistant cotton fabric developed by Thomas Burberry — offered the answer, and the trench coat as we know it was born.

Its features were designed for function: the storm flap across the chest and shoulder deflected rain, the wide collar could be turned up and buttoned against the wind, epaulettes held rank insignia, and D-rings on the belt were used to attach equipment such as map cases. Every detail had a job to do.

After the war, soldiers brought their coats home, and by the 1920s the trench had crossed over into civilian life. Its second life came through cinema — the silhouette became inseparable from detectives, spies and leading men on screen, cementing an association with quiet authority and understated style that persists today.

At East West Atelier, we design our trench coats in that same spirit: purposeful construction, a silhouette that flatters rather than shouts, and materials chosen to perform as well as they look. A century on, the coat's job hasn't changed — it still needs to keep a man dry, warm and put together, whatever the day brings.