Fresh off their Spring 2021 outdoor fashion show, Burberry hits the open road for a breathtaking campaign inspired by memories of traveling through nature. The Fall 2020 campaign features a diverse ensemble cast, but its real main character is the natural world and the possibilities it contains.
In designing the collection and conceiving its campaign, creative director Riccardo Tisci was inspired by his travels during his formative years as a young designer, as well as Burberry’s century-and-a-half-old British heritage.
This campaign is all about memories and reflections. The collection was inspired by escape and freedom. Recently I have really reflected upon my memories and of being at one with nature again, a dream-like journey of another time, another place. Set in an ambiguous location – you could be anywhere – like in a dream you have the freedom to make your journey what you want. You can draw from old, familiar memories and also adventure to discover new, exciting ones. With the mirroring of the truck you get this sense of reflections through the contrasting elements of the truck’s raw, powerful energy with the peaceful beauty of the surrounding nature, a tension of modernity.
Directed by Eli Linnetz Russell, the film follows a semi truck as it winds dizzyingly through mountain canyons, Burberry-clad models perched precariously, yet steadfastly, on its trailer. Russell uses breathtaking drone shots and depth of field modifications to emphasize the expansiveness and beauty of the landscape. A piece featuring swelling dual pianos by legendary contemporary composer Philip Glass feels like the perfectly epic and elegant soundtrack.
For me, living on the beach and being close to nature inspires everything I do and every choice I make. That was definitely a large part of this campaign; the daily battle between nature and nurture, instinct vs learning, and how to return to nature and heal yourself.
– Eli Linnetz Russell, Director
While it certainly does possess this tension, the campaign does also offer a sense of reconciliation and healing. Nature is deeply intimidating, but it can reveal a human sense of empathy, and humans can learn to understand their relationship with nature. In addition to being technically marvelous and aesthetically stunning, the campaign takes us on a spiritual journey. Though the film ends with a red sun setting behind a mountain peak, it is still open-ended: the journey continues.
Burberry Chief Creative Officer | Riccardo Tisci
Director | Eli Linnetz Russell
Photographer | Danko Steiner
Models | Mariacarla Boscono, Sora Choi, Maty Fall Diba, Ben Gibson, Tara Halliwell, Izaak Theo & Mona Tougaard
Stylist | Ana Steiner
Hair | Gary Gill
Makeup | Isamaya Ffrench
Soundtrack | ‘Four Movements for Two Pianos’ composed by Phillip Glass and played by pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque
* The Burberry Autumn/Winter 2020 campaign was photographed in line with the COVID-19 social distancing measures.