WALPOLE BRINGS BRITISH LUXURY TO NEW YORK

Walpole chief executive, Helen Brocklebank, director, Charlotte Keesing, and a delegation of 25 British luxury brands will visit New York City from March 6^th to March 10^th, hosting a series of events to develop relationships that drive export and tourism opportunities by engaging with top business leaders, buyers, and media. Walpole is a not-for-profit organization that promotes, develops, and protects the British luxury industry. With King Charles III’s Coronation approaching in May, this mission will work to strengthen trade and investment ties between the United Kingdom and the United States by promoting business and media relationships that reinforce the importance and desirability of British luxury and artisan-led brands. Brands on the visit will include Accouter Group of Companies, ALR Music, ArtFarm, Chapel Down, Cowdray, Cunard, David Collins Studio, Dorchester Collection, Downey, Feldspar, Fortnum & Mason, Gleneagles, Harris Tweed Hebrides, Kathryn Sargent, Laura Dickinson Clarke, London Sock Company, Neal’s Yard Remedies, Pelorus, Rapport London, Royal Academy of Arts, Sanderson Design Group, Sarah Haran, The Bicester Collection, The Glenturret, The Londoner and The Macallan. The brands will have some downtime in between events to meet with the press and partners and discuss US plans and opportunities.

Walpole’s membership includes more than 250 luxury brands across a broad range of sectors, including retail, interior design, food and drink, fashion, accessories, beauty, hospitality, culture, media, automotive, and yachting. Its members are united by a common focus on discerning and affluent consumers and a shared mission to deliver world-class experiences and products, around 80% of which are destined for key export markets including the US. Participating brands include Alexander McQueen, Bentley Motors, Bremont, Burberry, Fortnum & Mason, Gleneagles, Harrods, Manolo Blahnik, Rolls Royce Motor Cars, Saatchi Gallery and Wedgwood.

Helen Brocklebank, Chief Executive, Walpole, commented: “I’m hugely excited about returning to New York to show the creativity and innovation that typifies luxury in the UK. The US offers a huge growth opportunity for British luxury and the appetite of the US customer for our brands and services grows every year. Likewise, as wealthy international tourists begin to plan overseas trips now that travel is possible, we are keen to ensure that the UK and our variety of cultural experiences, world-class retail and British luxury hospitality is front of mind for US visitors thinking of making a trip here.”

The trip is supported by The Department for Trade and Business and Rupert Daniels, Director: Services and Skills says, “We are delighted to be collaborating with Walpole again on the New York luxury trade mission. The US is the world’s largest market for luxury goods and is an important strategic trading partner for the UK across all sectors of the economy. This face-to-face mission is the perfect fantastic opportunity to showcase the world-class products and services that UK companies have to offer customers across the United States.”

Walpole also runs the flagship ‘Brands of Tomorrow’ program to develop new British luxury brands. Alumni include Orlebar Brown, Nyetimber, Bremont and Emilia Wickstead. The program also works with the London Business School MBA program to help develop the talent of the future with ‘Luxury Leaders of Tomorrow’. Walpole also spearheads the British Luxury Sustainability Manifesto, with the vision of making British luxury the global benchmark for luxury sustainability.