About Walpole

OUR MISSION

Promoting, Protecting & Developing British Luxury

Walpole is the official sector body for UK luxury. Founded in 1992 as a not-for-profit organisation, it counts more than 250 British brands in its membership and is recognised in both Westminster and Brussels. As the voice of British luxury, Walpole’s purpose is to promote, protect and develop a sector worth £48 billion to the UK economy, and destined to become a world leader in sustainability.

Discover

DAKS Simpson

The Savoy Group

The Financial Times

William Grant & Sons

British Airways

Chewton Glen

History

Formed in 1990 as ‘The Churchill Group’ by top-tier British companies, including British Airways, Chewton Glen, Coutts & Co, DAKS Simpson, The Financial Times, The Savoy Group and William Grant & Sons, the aim of the organisation was to promote British excellence, providing a community for the exchange of best practice ideas to drive business development. In 1992, The Churchill Group became Walpole, and in 2005, Walpole refined its mission statement from promoting British excellence to promoting, protecting and developing British luxury.

What Walpole does

Walpole is the UK’s only business organisation for luxury brands. Effective and influential, it speaks on behalf of more than 250 of Britain’s finest and most famous brands across a wide range of sectors, collectively worth £48 billion to the UK economy, contributing 2.4% of the UK’s GDP, and employing more than 160,000 people throughout the country.

Walpole’s members include British luxury icons such as Alexander McQueen; Burberry; Bentley; dunhill; Farfetch; Fortnum & Mason; Gleneagles; Glenfiddich; Harrods; The Macallan; McLaren Automotive; Mulberry; Penhaligon’s; Rolls-Royce Motor Cars; The Savoy and Wedgwood. It also represents many prestigious heritage brands - Church’s; Henry Poole & Co; Johnstons of Elgin; Ettinger; Lock & Co Hatters; Turnbull & Asser, for example - as well as emerging high-end British brands like Chapel Down Wines; Biscuiteers; Miller Harris and Bremont Watches, many of whom have come through Walpole’s flagship development programme, Brands of Tomorrow. Member brands are united by a common focus on discerning and affluent consumers and a shared mission to deliver world-class products and experiences.

View Walpole's members

Walpole’s mission is to protect, promote and develop a sector that is the jewel in the crown of British business and a global calling card for British creativity, quality, entrepreneurship and sustainability, representing the very best Britain can do. Walpole achieves this by representing its members’ interests at home and abroad, building networks and encouraging collaboration within our community, and providing members with knowledge, insight and expertise.

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Walpole News

Editorial

30th Nov 2023

The state of luxury in Hong Kong

As Pharrell prepares to show his latest collection for Louis Vuitton in Hong Kong, journalist and 'Vogue Business' contributor, Gemma A. Williams, takes a closer look at luxury in the city and the region's preparations for a post-pandemic retail renaissance

Meet the Team

24th Nov 2023

Get to know Isabel Stewart, Walpole's Head of Events (Maternity Cover)

In our office-focused interview series, we are taking you inside our Chelsea HQ to introduce you to the wider Walpole team. For this instalment, we speak to Isabel Stewart, our Head of Events (Maternity Cover), who you might have seen at one of our many events. Read on to hear more about her role at Walpole, how she came to work here and why a soak in the bath is the ultimate luxury...

Walpole Awards

23rd Nov 2023

On the blue carpet...

All glamorous arrivals on our signature blue carpet at the Walpole British Luxury Awards 2023 ceremony, held at The Dorchester in London's Mayfair, including Sabrina Elba, David Harewood, Malachi Kirby and many more