BRANDS OFTOMORROW2018

It is always fascinating sitting through two days of presentations to select the next Brands of Tomorrow. One gets a sense of the mood, type and personality of today’s luxury entrepreneur. Our chosen twelve are a bold and confident lot, a little eccentric and definitely determined. From an extremely young group of champions in 2017 we have

a more mature set for 2018, several of whom have come to starting their own business after successful careers in more corporate environments or are onto their second or even third enterprise. Constant themes of the best fabrics, amazing design and UK manufacture come through along with a truly adventurous spirit based on delivering wonderful experiences. I can’t wait to see how the class of 2018 will become the cool and wanted across the globe.

Jonathan HeilbronChairman of Walpole’s Brands of Tomorrow programme

Brands of Tomorrow programme criteria

To be eligible for the Brands of Tomorrow programme, companies need to exemplify the highest standards of quality, innovation and craftsmanship and aspire to develop into full Walpole members.

The key criteria includes:• Brands must be positioned in the luxury sector and registered in the UK• Have a turnover between £200,000 and £5 million• Be no older than 10 years• Have a clear vision for their future• Have an entrepreneurial management style• Open to external investment• Brands should expect to become a member of Walpole at the end of their year on the programme

This year also sees the launch of the Brands of Tomorrow Alumni Club, which allows former participants to continue their Walpole experience with special events aimed at entrepreneurs, as well as access to the wider Walpole community and activities.

Kathryn Sargent Bespoke Tailoring, LONB, Malle London, Method, Rae Feather, and Votary – all perfectly encapsulate the extraordinary creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of luxury in the British Isles, and exemplify the highest standards of quality, style, innovation and craftsmanship. With Walpole’s help, they will maximise their potential and go on to drive UK growth, to export goods and services, to create employment, and to take up their place alongside the established British luxury brands.

As we welcome the 2018 intake, I’d like to thank long-standing programme partner Mishcon de Reya, who not only invest in the programme, but also give generously of their expertise, providing each brand with a legal mentor to work alongside their luxury mentor. And of course to say a huge thank you to those Walpole members who freely give their time and talents to developing this next generation, either as mentors or workshop partners.

Helen BrocklebankCEO of Walpole

Welcome

Walpole launched its flagship Brands of Tomorrow programme with the vision to secure the long-term growth of the UK’s luxury sector by building a pipeline of next-generation brands. The programme’s inaugural intake in 2007 is testament to its immediate success: Astley Clarke, Bremont, Fitzdares, Nyetimber, Miller Harris and Persephone

Books are now beacons of the British luxury sector, known the world over.

Since then, Walpole’s Brands of Tomorrow has mentored 85 luxury start-ups. This year, 12 more fledgling brands will join the likes of Orlebar Brown, Charlotte Olympia, House of Hackney, Richard Brendon, Rococo Chocolates, Business of Fashion, Rory Dobner, Emilia Wickstead, and many more, as they move onto the next stage of their luxury journey.

The 2018 Brands of Tomorrow – Asceno, Castore, FLOWERBX, Hamilton and Hare, The Jackal, JJ Corry Irish Whiskey,

2 3

ASCENO, at its core, is a brand ushered by both an insatiable desire to travel the world and the absolute necessity to look effortlessly cool while doing so. The brand takes inspiration from the laid-back tomboy spirit of the early 90s adding impeccable tailoring to make its pieces sophisticated and timeless. This sleek brand is best known for its bold stripes, vibrant prints, and unexpected use of colour. Fluid sandwashed silk pyjamas and premium swimwear are all perfectly proportioned for luxuriated globetrotting. Founded in 2013, ASCENO was almost fated for partners and best friends Poppy Sexton-Wainwright and Lauren Leask.

asceno.com

Castore is the world’s first truly premium sportswear brand for men, utilising specialist technical fabrics and advanced engineering to create garments of unrivalled quality. Founded by brothers Phil and Tom Beahon both former professional athletes, the Castore DNA lies in a deep commitment to performance enhancement and finding marginal improvements that combine to deliver a fundamentally superior garment. Castore supports some of Britain’s most talented young athletes and these individuals play a key role in product development, pushing garments to their limits during testing and combine with rigorous scientific analysis to deliver superior sportswear for more discerning athletes.

castore.co.uk

FLOWERBX is an online flower delivery service that is fundamentally changing the way that individuals and businesses purchase flowers. Because of its proprietary, inventory-less operating model, delivering flowers directly from the auctions in Holland, FLOWERBX is able to cut out the handful of middlemen that perpetuate the traditional bricks-and-mortar supply chain. As a result, FLOWERBX is able to offer extraordinary freshness while passing savings onto the customer.

flowerbx.com

Hamilton and Hare was founded with the ambition of giving men’s underwear and loungewear the respect it deserves and set out to elevate the category beyond functional basics. The story started with a reinvention of the boxer short, inspired by the original boxing short worn in the ring. Combining an avid attention to detail, innovative natural fabrics and an obsession with fit, the ambition is to deliver ultimate comfort that looks good too. Since launch the brand has acquired international stockists including Mr Porter, Matches, Barneys and Selfridges and opened its first standalone store on London’s Chiltern Street in 2016.

hamiltonandhare.com

4 5

The Jackal is a disruptive new media brand and a vehicle for luxury brands. It was launched in March 2017 and targets an AB London commuter audience of smart-dressing, smart-thinking, smart-living men in print and online through a magazine, a website, social channels, a weekly email and an events portfolio. Each of the 100,000 magazines produced is freely distributed, either direct to consumer through targeted Tube and Overland stations in the West End and the City, or placed in carefully selected major transport hubs (airports lounges and gate racks, Eurostar, Heathrow Express first class carriages), city businesses, upmarket hotels, private members clubs and central London boutiques.

thejackalmagazine.com

Founded by Louise McGuane in 2015, The Chapel Gate Irish Whiskey Co. has revived the once lost art of Irish whiskey bonding. The company sources the highest quality whiskey from multiple Irish distilleries, fills it into specially selected casks and matures it in a unique coastal microclimate on the McGuane family farm along the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland. When ready, the whiskey is blended and released under the J.J. Corry brand name. The first release J.J. Corry “The Gael” has won whiskey awards and accolades globally and is available in the USA, Germany, UK & Ireland.

chapelgatewhiskey.com

Kathryn Sargent Bespoke Tailoring creates garments of the highest quality for both men and women. As the first tailoring house established by a woman that has true Savile Row values of craftsmanship at its core, Kathryn infuses quintessentially British style with a fresh contemporary vision. The first female Head Cutter at a Savile Row tailoring house and first female Master Tailor to have a seasonal store on Savile Row, Kathryn founded her company in 2012. She is committed to delivering the highest standard of service and quality in making unique garments for a diverse range of clients from across the globe.

kathrynsargent.com

Launched in April 2017 by Melissa Morris and Reinhard Mieck, LONB is a timeless collection of luxury leather goods for men and women which brings refinement, elegance and ease into everyday moments. Created for lives in motion, the collection is crafted to be beautiful and practical. Each detail, from the outside to the inside, balances relaxed confidence and intuitive purpose; The wearer moves through their day with effortlessness and grace. The collection is crafted in Italy from the finest French and Italian leathers and is sold from its flagship at 59 South Audley Street.LONB’s philosophy,Love or Nothing, baby, stems from the committed passion and relaxed confidence of each individual they design for.

lonb.com

6 7

Malle London was founded by two British designers, Robert Nightingale & Jonathan Cazzola. The pair set out to reinvent the world of motorcycle luggage, which lead them into a new area they define as ‘adventure accessories’. Malle blend British heritage materials with contemporary design, robust craftsmanship and a unique sense of utilitarian style. Each piece is tested on long distance motorcycle expeditions, ensuring it is suitable for all transportation modes and subsequent adventures by land, sea and air. Malle is also the host of ‘The Mile’ motorcycle race and the longest motorcycle rally in the UK, called ‘The Great Mile’.

mallelondon.com

Method is a boutique creative production house, specialising in the design, development, project-management and manufacture of remarkable bespoke objects and associated authentic content, primarily for luxury brands. From humble beginnings as a handmade furniture and trunk makers, the studio has grown into a multi-disciplinary ‘Architects of Objects’ delivering a wide range of creative services with an unmistakable heart of craft and a playful, theatrical style, for the likes of Burberry, Aesop, Vacheron Constantin and Bentley. Combining both design studio and prototyping/manufacturing workshop, Method’s HQ is located in a lovingly restored timber sawmill, nestled in the forest above the historic Royal Burgh of Linlithgow, in central Scotland.

methodstudio.co.uk

Rae Feather believe in bringing a little joy to the simple things in life. Designed for work, play and everything in between, Rae Feather creates luxury accessories that become a faithful friend, whatever the occasion. Famed for their woven basket bags and clutches, which have become a staple in the wardrobes of fashion experts across the globe, the brand offers a bespoke touch in the form of monogrammed initials. Hand painted by a team of in-house artists, this thoughtful flourish has become a brand signature. Working with expert artisans, their pieces blend time-honoured craft skills with a contemporary design aesthetic; think pom-poms, tassels and bold colour motifs.

raefeather.com

Founded by Arabella Preston and Charlotte Semler in 2015, Votary is a luxury range of natural plant oils and active botanicals for dewy, glowing, healthy skin. Each unique formula is created by Arabella and made in England. Since its launch Votary has wowed the international beauty community. From its exclusive first listing in Liberty London, Votary is blossoming, and is now sold in Space NK, Net-A-Porter and specialist beauty boutiques around the world. Adored by beauty buyers, editors and bloggers alike, the brand fuses simplicity, modernity and chicness with a passionate belief that healthy skin is beautiful skin.

votary.co.uk

8 9

The 2017 brands The 2016 brands The 2015 brands

Agi & Sam is a forward thinking fashion design

studio examining the world through a truthful but

humorous lens.

Exmoor Caviar is the UK’s first and only caviar producing farm, based in

North Devon.

Troubadour specialises in beautiful handcrafted

bags and accessories made from the finest

materials.

London-based designer Alexandra Llewellyn creates

backgammon boards, custom-made games tables and

games, all made in the UK.

Helen Amy Murray’s eponymous London studio

hand sculpts leather, suede, silk and other textiles into

unique decorative surfaces.

Camilla’s designs are defined by a feminine yet

playful aesthetic and focus on premium, ethically

sourced materials.

Hillier Bartley is a ready-to-wear brand founded

in 2015 by long-term collaborators Katie Hillier

and Luella Bartley.

Capstar is a luxury services brand providing

risk management and security, luxury travel and

lifestyle services.

Rory Dobner aims to put a little piece of England in homes across the world, with luxurious and unique

home accessories.

Duke & Dexter is a British born footwear brand

specialising in men’s loafers. All their shoes are handmade

in Sheffield, England.

The New Craftsmen works with a selection of Britain’s

finest craft makers to showcase the skills and

products of the British Isles.

Tessa Packard London is the eponymous fine

jewellery label by London-based founder and creative

director Tessa Packard.

stage 3 - B&W detailed logo

RESEIGH FOOKS BRAND AND PACKAGING DESIGN CLIENT: NOBLE ISLE STAGE 3 29th June 2011

T H E N E W T R A D I T I O N

EMILIA WICKSTEADA T E L I E R

10 11

20112013 20102012 2009 2008 2007

12 13

The Experts 2018 Workshops Walpole

Every year Walpole puts together an esteemed panel of experts selected from some of the UK’s most experienced luxury businesses, to help provide practical advice and support to each of the Brands of Tomorrow. Past mentors have included:

JOHN AYTON MBE Chairman, Annoushka Jewellery and Bremont Watch Company

MARTIN BARTLE Founder & MD, Arthur Ridley Esq.

GILLIAN DE BONO Editor, FT How To Spend It

SALLY BRITTON Intellectual Property Partner, Mishcon de Reya

RICHARD CARTER Director of Global Communications, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

LEWIS COHEN Commercial Contracts Partner, Mishcon de Reya

SARAH ELTON Consultant and Creative Chairman, Debrett’s

NICK AND GILES ENGLISH Co-Founders, Bremont Watch Company

TANIA FOSTER BROWN Marketing and Communications Director, Selfridges

MARK HARVEY MD, Chapel Down

MAURICE HELFGOTT Founder Director, Amery Capital

ALISTAIR HUGHES MD, Savoir Beds

SEBASTIAN MANES Buying & Merchandising Director, Selfridges

MICHAEL MORLEY Head of Wealth Management UK, Deutsche Bank

DR FREDERICK MOSTERT Oxford University

JO NEWTON Head of Buying: Fashion, Beauty and Home, Fortnum and Mason

DEMETRA PINSENT CEO, Charlotte Tilbury

GUY SALTER OBE MVO Chairman, London Craft Week

JIM SHARP Partner and Co-Founder, Sirius Equity

LUCIA VAN DER POST Luxury Commentator

MICHAEL WARD Managing Director, Harrods

WORKSHOP 1Tuesday 13th February

WORKSHOP 2Thursday 22nd March

WORKSHOP 3Tuesday 17th April

WORKSHOP 4Thursday 17th May

WORKSHOP 5Thursday 14th June

WORKSHOP 6Monday 20th September

WORKSHOP 7Thursday 18th October

JONATHAN HEILBRONChairman, Walpole Brands of Tomorrow

HELEN BROCKLEBANK

CEO, Walpole

CELANDINE WADEProgrammes Manager, Walpole

For more information on Brands of Tomorrow, please contact celandine.wade@thewalpole.co.uk

“The support, advice and networking opportunities that Walpole and the Brands of Tomorrow Programme provide to aspiring British luxury brands are unrivalled.”

WITH THANKS TO

14 15