On Monday 19th November, the V&A: Fashioned From Nature, Royal Ballet x Erdem, Fortnum & Mason, Mulberry, Belmond, and Manolo Blahnik received awards at the 17th annual Walpole British Luxury Awards at The Dorchester, Mayfair, hosted by the world renowned, Golden Globe, BAFTA, International Emmy Award-nominated actor Jason Isaacs.

The Walpole British Luxury Awards celebrate and reward brands, individuals and experiences that have demonstrated the pinnacle of excellence in the last year. Over 375 luxury industry creatives, executives and influencers gathered to applaud Britain’s longstanding luxury companies and emerging talent for their outstanding work in the luxury sector both in Britain and abroad. The British luxury sector is worth over £32 billion to the UK economy, and Walpole is committed to promoting, protecting and developing the industry’s unique qualities through its mentoring programmes, events, research and public affairs with the British government and in Europe.

Recognising Walpole’s dedication to nurturing the next generation of British luxury brands, the Brands of Tomorrow Award for Emerging Talent was presented to DeMellier, Luke Edward Hall, Rory Dobner, and The Vampires Wife - all of which were identified by the judging panel as new British brands with the potential for success on a global scale.

The Luxury Leader award was presented to Alison Loehnis, President of NET-A-PORTER and MR PORTER, for her interdisciplinary, creative leadership skills across fashion, business and digital, and Manolo Blahnik was named Luxury Legend in recognition of his 40-year career as one of the world’s most influential footwear designers. Natalie Livingstone and Catherine Ostler collected the Award for Cultural Contribution for the critically acclaimed Cliveden Literary Festival.

Hosting the ceremony, Jason Isaacs wore a bespoke Henry Poole dinner jacket and Manolo Blahnik Oxford shoes. The black-tie event began with a Laurent-Perrier champagne reception, followed by an elegant three-course dinner of gin and tonic salmon with Bramley apple salad, roast duck with sweet potato puree and apple cider jus and passionfruit and mango dacquoise. Sumaridge Syrah 2013 and Sumaridge Estate White 2016 was served at the awards were announced and the night was capped off with an after-party hosted by the Dovetail Agency Cocktail Club, during which guests sipped on The Lakes Explorer gin and tonic and Royal Salute Whisky.

The winners of the 2018 Walpole British Luxury Awards were chosen by an esteemed judging panel. The panel was chaired by Michael Ward, MD, Harrods & Chairman, Walpole, and includes Helen Brocklebank, CEO, Walpole; Mark Harvey, CEO, Chapel Down; Gillian De Bono, Editor, How to Spend it; Michael Morley, CEO, Deutsche Bank UK Limited; Mark Henderson, Chairman, Gieves & Hawkes; Richard Carter, Director of Global Communications, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars; Jonathan Heilbron, Chairman, Walpole Brands of Tomorrow; Philippe Warnery; Senior Vice President and GM of Estée Lauder; Dr. Frederick Mostert, Research Fellow, University of Oxford IP Research Centre and Justine Picardie, Editor-in-Chief, Harper’s Bazaar and Town & Country.