Advocacy

In January 2020 Walpole launched the British Luxury Sustainability , a commitment to helping the luxury sector become the global leader in sustainability. Eight sector Working Groups regularly collaborate on four key pillars: the transition to a circular economy, safeguarding natural resources and the environment, increasing sustainable practices and advocating for equal and respectful working conditions.

Pre-pandemic, the UK luxury sector was growing at a rate of nearly 10% each year, double that of GDP. Since March 2020, luxury businesses, their supply chains and the local communities they support have been devastated by the effect of lockdowns and lack of international shoppers to the UK. This, coupled with the business difficulties brought about by the UK leaving the European Union, has deeply impacted the luxury sector’s ability to maintain its phenomenal growth over the last decade. Walpole sets out the levers which the Government needs to use to assist recovery.

Walpole is a founder of the European Cultural and Creative Industries Alliance (ECCIA), composed of the six national European luxury goods and creative industries organisations: Walpole; Circulo Fortuny (Spain); Comité Colbert (France); Fondazione Altagamma (Italy); Meisterkreis (Germany); and Gustaf III Kommitté (Sweden). Collectively the ECCIA represents the interests of over 600 European high-end, creative and cultural businesses, with its work falling into three main areas of activity: protection of IP and governance of the internet; market access and tourism; and highlighting the role of the cultural and creative industries as a key driver of Europe’s overall economic health, competitiveness, innovation and employment.