Brands of Tomorrow
By Jo Phillips
Did you know that you can actually buy Caviar that has been produced in the UK? Exmoor Caviar is the first and only caviar producing farm in the UK and is one of the winners of last night’s Walpole Brands of Tomorrow awards. Yesterday, Walpole revealed the 2017 selections for its esteemed Brands of Tomorrow programme, celebrating a decade of the programme. The awards celebrate the innovators who have caught the attention of the world of luxury, considered to be paving the way for generations to come. The winners were revealed at Hotel Café Royal, which is a renowned hotel that is keen to support emerging British talent. The Brand of Tomorrow programme provides the 12 chosen brands with bespoke learning under the mentorship of dynamic leaders from some of Britain’s finest luxury brands and they are given access to Walpole’s established membership of over 170 brands.
The selected 2017 brands of tomorrow are:
Agi & Sam: It is a forward thinking design studio examining the world through a truthful but humorous lens to create product with integrity and meaning.
Alexandra Llewellyn: She is a London-based designer and creates backgammon boards and custom-made games tables and games, all crafted in the UK. Alexandra Llewellyn Designs stock a collection of in-house designs that are available immediately or can be personalised with engraved or painted messages, initials, and dates. The brand works with a team of master craftsmen in the UK, who each specialise in different techniques and materials, making each commission an original to be enjoyed by generations to come.
Camilla Elphick: It is a young British footwear brand which launched over two years ago, and has garnered critical acclaim in four seasons.
Capstar: This luxury services brand is providing risk management and security, luxury travel and lifestyle services to cooperate and private clients in Europe and the United States of America.
Duke & Dexter: The British born footwear brand is specialised in men’s loafers. All their shoes are designed in London and handmade in Sheffield, England.
Exmoor Caviar: Set up in 2012, it is the UK’s first and only caviar producing farm. They have been trading in caviar both in a retail and wholesale capacity for years prior to this, founder Kenneth Benning saw an opportunity to create a truly unique caviar that would rival any fine caviar from the continent. The farm is based in North Devon at the foothills of the Exmoor National Park and uses naturally filtered spring water to raise its sturgeon. Their focus is to produce sustainable and natural caviar using traditional production methods in the modern world.
Helen Amy Murray: The eponymous London studio hand sculpts leather, suede, silk and other textiles into unique three-dimensional decorative surfaces.
Hillier Bartley: The brand was founded in 2015 by long-term collaborators Katie Hillier and Luella Bartley. It specialises in ready-to-wear, bags and jewellery, to create collections with personality and integrity, which correspond with a modern sense of femininity.
Rory Dobner: The brand aims to put a little piece of England in homes across the world. Their mission is to provide luxurious and unique home accessories which add style and quirkiness to any room of any home in any country.
Tessa Packard: It is a eponymous fine jewellery label by London-based founder and creative director Tessa Packard. Launched in 2013, the brand has become internationally recognised for its eclectic bi-annual collections that celebrate individuality, storytelling and unique design.
The New Craftsmen: The brand works with a selection of Britain’s finest craft makers to showcase the materials, skills and craft products of the British Isles.
Troubadour Goods: The London-based design house is specialised in beautiful handcrafted bags and accessories made from the finest materials.
Jonathan Heilbron, Chairman of the Walpole Brands of Tomorrow programme, said: “We are immensely proud to be celebrating ten years of the Walpole Brands of Tomorrow programme and the Class of 2017 is a group of superb talent who we cannot wait to work with over the next twelve months, alongside a team of some of the luxury industry’s very best brains. These brands, designers and craftspeople are leading the way for the future of luxury and to be able to give all of them the opportunity to grow and develop through such a unique platform is a huge honour.”
Brands of Tomorrow is not the only programme which is presenting new artists and their works. The House of Vans London is showcasing the work of graduates from Camberwell College of Arts at the ‘Open Plan’ exhibition. The opening party will launch on the 26th January and the exhibition will run until Sunday 12th February 2017. Six artists who have recently graduated from Camberwell College of Arts will be taking over he House of Vans Gallery arches to create an immersive, engaging exhibition. It will explore space, architecture and site specific installation through painting and sculpture. For more information visit their website here.
