What image does the word ‘craft’ conjure up in your mind? I would hazard a guess that your first thoughts are towards the artisanal – skilled people working with their hands to create beautiful objects using knowledge honed and passed down across the generations. In fact, you will have the chance to get to know a selection of them in our Meet the Makers portfolio, with interviews penned by Mark Hooper and portraits shot by Sam Walton.
However, while there is no doubt that this physical expression of craft is a huge part of what makes British luxury world-leading, the idea of ‘craft’ in our industry is becoming ever broader as we move into the future. Today, it also encompasses the craft of more incorporeal experiences with signature British ingenuity, expertise and capability: hospitality, digital innovation, community building.
Walpole’s focus for the year ahead is on the jobs and skills that make the UK luxury sector the envy of the world. That’s why in the Book of British Luxury 2024/2025, we are taking the opportunity to spotlight the most engaging people, innovative high-end brands and makers you need to know, all redefining homegrown craft for a new generation. What are the progressive ideas and time-honoured expertise that will shape luxury and culture far into the future? Over the following pages, we’ve enlisted a roster of exceptional journalistic talent to explore just that.
Coincidentally, the publication of this issue is also the 190th anniversary of the birth of British designer and entrepreneur William Morris, founder of the globally influential Arts and Crafts movement and a man whose radical ideas about how we could live shaped interior design in the increasingly urban Victorian era. We asked Tristram Hunt, Director of the V&A and President of the William Morris Society, why Morris’s design philosophy resonates louder than ever nearly two centuries later – something that, we hope you agree, is marvellously demonstrated by the reinterpretation of one of his beautifully arcadian archival designs – Sunflower – originally designed by William Morris and sold by Morris & Co. in 1875, and reimagined for our cover by Sanderson Design Group.
Speaking of interiors, this year also marks the tenth anniversary of London Craft Week, the capital’s annual celebration of outstanding creativity, showcasing makers and marques from across the globe. To mark this momentous occasion, renowned design journalist and presenter Michelle Ogundehin muses on the resurgent skills in interior design – and who’s doing them right. In a similar vein, food writer Mina Holland removes the proverbial cloche on the traditional methods of making that are seeing a revival in high-end gastronomy here in the UK, and travel journalist Melinda Stevens checks in with what is making the UHNW customer tick when it comes to hospitality right now – and why Britain is doing it better than anywhere else in the world.
When it comes to British commodities, there are a notable selection that have captured the globe’s imagination over the past couple of years. The interest in bespoke luxury cars infused with heritage and skilled creation have make the UK a go-to for discerning international customers wanting an automobile that truly reflects their aesthetic. Writer Charlie Thomas explores how the custom car is the new Savile Row suit for a generation of motor-lovers. And while we’re talking about Savile Row, renowned menswear writer Aleks Cvetkovic introduces us to the new names bringing variety, inclusivity and high-tech to the world-famous street.
It's this interest in the personal element of craft that has also led to a womenswear scene where pieces that show visible signs of the maker (or, indeed, mender) are currently trending. We asked fashion journalist Eni Subair to explore this trend and the British designers who are getting noticed globally for the physical storytelling woven into their garments. This demand for technique is also seen in the renaissance British haute joaillerie is enjoying, too. Writer Ming Liu explores the shining example homegrown jewellery houses are setting for British heritage businesses on the world stage. On the subject of all things international, Vogue journalist Scarlett Conlon helps us celebrate Walpole assuming the presidency of the European Cultural and Creative Industries Alliance (ECCIA) from our Italian luxury cousins Altagamma, by taking us to her adoptive home of Italy. On this brief trip away from all things British, she speaks to Altagamma CEO Stefania Lazzaroni about why the Made in Italy moniker holds such currency for both Italian businesses and abroad.
After that little continental vacation, it’s time to get back to work, which is why we hired comedian and life coach Viv Groskop to break down her top ten tips for crafting the career you deserve over the coming year.
Finally, we asked two of our country’s standout culture-shapers – Katy Wickremesinghe and Ben Pentreath – to give us their thoughts on art and architecture in Britain today: the forces shaping it, the makers defining it and what its evolution says about where Britain is headed.
Thank you to all our writers and our incomparable illustrators – Jovilee Burton, Anna Higgie and Luke Edward Hall – for being a part of the Book of British Luxury 2024/2025. We hope the issue leaves you feeling inspired about the breadth of exciting craft that is making Britain – and our luxury sector – truly great.
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