Selfridges, Burberry and Mulberry have all been nominated in the annual
Walpole British Luxury Awards, which will take place at The Dorchester in
London on November 18.
The awards, which will be presented by actor Laurence Fox, will feature
ten categories to celebrate the “very best high-end products and services
from a diverse range of British businesses,” spanning multiple sectors
including fashion, fragrance, fine jewellery, hotels, automobiles and
accessories.
British heritage brand Burberry is up against Selfridges, Net-a-Porter,
jewellers De Beers and the Esteè Lauder Companies for the ‘Luxury with a
Heart’ award, which will be awarded to a brand dedicated to making the
brand a better place, and recognises sustainable or environmental
initiatives, contributions to special causes, or those using the power of
their voice to speak out on behalf of others.
For the ‘British Luxury Overseas’ category, Mulberry will take on
Orlebar Brown, Smythson, Ormonde Jayne, and Royal Salute, while best
‘Luxury Maker’ will see British couture house Ralph and Russo up against
Church’s, Hamilton and Inches Linley, and Princess Yachts.
Department store Selfridges gets its second nomination in the best
‘British Luxury Brand’ category, nominated alongside Dunhill, Boodles, The
Savoy, and Penhaligon’s.
Burberry, Selfridges and Mulberry all nominated at the Walpole British
Luxury Awards 2019
Two of the most highlighted fashion exhibitions, the Christian Dior:
Designer of Dreams exhibit at the V&A and Manolo Blahnik’s collaboration
with The Wallace Collection have also been recognised.
V&A’s Christian Dior exhibition has been nominated for the ‘Cultural
Contribution’ accolade which celebrates a British institution or enterprise
that has enhanced the cultural landscape in 2019. They are shortlisted
alongside Chelsea in Bloom: Cadogan and the RHS, Josie Rourke: theatre and
film director, The Macallan Visitor Experience, and Pitzhanger Manor: Anish
Kapoor Exhibition.
While The Wallace Collection’s Manolo Blahnik exhibition is shortlisted
for the ‘Creative Collaboration’ award with LPO x Belmond x Miller Harris
Cadogan launch, Belstaff x Leica, Farrow and Ball x Natural History Museum,
and Ettinger x Rory Dobner.
Emerging talent will also be highlighted with sportswear brand Castore
up against Cubitts, Alexandra Llewellyn, Flowerbx, and Olivia Von Halle.
This year, there will also be a new category, the ‘Future Legacy’ award,
which will be awarded to an iconic British luxury brand that has chosen to
use the power of its heritage to build a visionary and relevant story for
the future, with innovation and purpose at the heart of what that legacy
aims to achieve.
Commenting on the shortlist, Walpole’s chief executive, Helen
Brocklebank, said in a statement: “The global strength of Britain’s
creative industries makes for a powerful context in which the British
luxury sector, now worth 48 billion pounds to the UK economy, continues to
flourish, and it’s exciting to see such a broad spread of brands nominated
for the Awards.
“What makes all of the nominees incredibly special is their relentless
quest to take British luxury global, and win hearts all over the world, and
their commitment to creativity, collaboration and to building long-term,
sustainable businesses.”
The winners of the prestigious awards, which has previously been won by
the likes of Victoria Beckham, Charlotte Tilbury, Manolo Blahnik, and
Emilia Wickstead, will be selected by a panel of industry experts, headed
up by Walpole’s Chairman, Michael Ward, managing director of Harrods and
Walpole’s chief executive, Helen Brocklebank.
The Walpole British Luxury Awards winners will be announced on November
18.
Image: courtesy of Burberry