Range Rover, Jo Malone London, Clothsurgeon And Cunard Amongst Winners At The Walpole British Luxury Awards 2024

Last night, 400 industry creatives, executives and influencers gathered at the annual Walpole British Luxury Awards to celebrate Britain’s luxury brands and individuals, as well as those who define the exciting creativity, innovation and global cultural relevance of Great Britain. Held at The Dorchester, Mayfair and hosted by actress, playwright and author Zawe Ashton, the ceremony was attended by, Luke Evans, Bianca Saunders, Kunal Nayyar, Harry Lambert, Bianca Jagger, Tinie Tempah, Yomi Adegoke and Gizzi Erskine.

Actor Luke Evans presented the Made in the UK award to Range Rover, recognising the marque’s shift towards electrification, which has created 950 new highly skilled engineering jobs. Epitomising luxury on a global scale, record profits from exports to over 120 countries are now being reinvested to ensure a sustainable future for both customers and its UK employees. Jo Malone London received the Creative Collaboration award for its charming collaboration with Paddington™; an innovative global campaign that blended nostalgia and storytelling to captivate new audiences with unique experiences and limited-edition fragrance. British Fashion Council (BFC) Chief Executive Officer Caroline Rush CBE received the Cultural & Social Contribution award for her dedication to elevating British fashion internationally. Her commitment to championing UK designers, nurturing new talent, promoting sustainability and inclusivity, and democratising the industry through initiatives like London Fashion Weekend has made fashion more accessible to all in this 40th anniversary year of London Fashion Week.

One such homegrown talent and early recipient of support from the BFC, Erdem Moralıoglu, was named Visionary for redefining contemporary fashion, merging artful storytelling with timeless elegance, and championing the beauty of craftsmanship and heritage in every collection. His standout runway shows have been staged at both the National Portrait Gallery and the British Museum and his eclectic, beautiful and thought-provoking approach to British culture creates a unique and powerful dialogue between the past and the future. The Game-Changer award was presented to clothsurgeon in recognition of the brands’ modern and innovative approach to menswear which merges streetwear and Savile Row tailoring.

clothsurgeon founder Rav Matharu made history by being the first ever South Asian designer to open the first bespoke streetwear store on the Row – taking that unique spirit of bespoke but tailoring it to today and garnering worldwide attention. This year, Walpole continues to celebrate the unique and evolving link between British luxury brands and our country’s world-leading cultural institutions and artists. Currently enjoying the most expansive retrospective of his 60-year career at the RA, Sir Michael Craig-Martin CBE RA, was named this evenings’ Artistic Pioneer. One of the most influential artists and teachers of his generation, he not only produced unique, thought-provoking, graphic heavy pieces of his own, but was also a prominent mentor to the YBA generation. Two individuals who represent the very best of creative and cultural talent in the UK today were recognised as Great Creative Britons. Chef and restaurateur Ruthie Rogers has not only changed the way we eat, advocating for seasonal, sustainable ingredients, her storied restaurant, The River Café, remains the hottest table in London almost 40 years after opening. Multi-disciplinary British Nigerian artist and designer Yinka Ilori MBE, who is fast becoming one of our country’s most powerful culture makers, was honoured for his vibrant, boundary-pushing work that celebrates heritage and community, transforming everyday spaces through his unique and joyful blend of colour, pattern, and storytelling.

New for this year, the WOLF Award for Future Legacy was introduced to celebrate a business that has demonstrated significant commitment to supporting, developing and preserving talent and skills in the UK. Selected by a panel of specialists, this award was presented to Scottish designer-weaver Araminta Campbell for her work in and passing down the skills and expertise of hand weaving in Aberdeen from one generation to the next, ensuring future stability of the craft in the UK. The Glenturret Distillery was recognised with the Sustainable Luxury Brand of the Year. Scotland’s oldest working distillery impressed the specialist judging panel with its commitment to sustainability while preserving traditional whisky-making methods. By embedding high standards, clear goals, and measuring impressive progress – reducing process water usage by 28%, energy by 27%, and waste by 1,000 tonnes annually – it proves that heritage can be a springboard to a greener future. Richard Brendon was honoured with the Luxury in the Making award for his innovative approach to ceramics, blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design to create timeless, luxury pieces that celebrate British heritage and elevate modern tableware. His dedication to bone china production in Stoke-on-Trent is crucial in preserving this heritage British industry, now at risk of disappearing.

The most coveted award of the evening, British Luxury Brand of The Year went to Cunard. 2024 has been a momentous year with the launch of the Queen Anne ship, inspired by Cunard’s past and built for its future. Cunard’s record-breaking commercial performance in 2024, has been matched by its continued evolution of the guest experience. The brand has elevated luxury sea travel, from the art displayed (the largest collection at sea), the on board productions developed by Tony award winning producers and produce used on the ship supplied by British artisans with the highest provenance and quality, for which it has been rightly celebrated this evening. Tonight, the 11 exciting, young businesses that participated in the Walpole Brands of Tomorrow 2024 mentoring programme for emerging luxury brands were recognised for their completion of the scheme. They represent the very best in British entrepreneurship — maverick spirit, creativity and determination run through them all. The black-tie event began with a Laurent-Perrier champagne reception, followed by a three-course dinner of butternut squash salad, truffle celeriac remoulade, golden crust goat’s cheese, glazed figs and endive to start followed by roast Atlantic cod with Perigord truffle crust, langoustine and sauce fleurette, mousseline potato Jerusalem artichoke, salsify and heritage beetroot, and pudding was a vanilla mille-feuille, Tahitian vanilla diplomat cream, salted caramel and vanilla ice cream. The wines were supplied by Berry Bros. & Rudd and Jukes Cordialities non-alcoholic drinks were served. WOLF provided Silver Watch, Jewellery and Legacy Boxes as individual table gifts and the goody bags were provided by Otiumberg, Richard Brendon, Neal’s Yard Remedies, ARgENTUM, Miller Harris and Fortnum & Mason.

https://www.thewalpole.co.uk/news/all-the-winners-at-the-walpole-british-luxury-awards-2024