What’s Trending in British Luxury News? April 2024
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9 months ago
All you need to know
Everything that’s happening this month in the world of homegrown luxury, from anniversaries to collaborations to new collections. Here’s all the British luxury news for April 2024.
British Luxury News
British Luxury Sector Worth £81 Billion
A new study by Walpole, called Luxury in the Making, has discovered that the sector has grown a whopping 69% over the last five years to 2022, and is now worth £81 billion – equivalent to 3.7% of GDP. The British luxury industry also supports 454,000 jobs in a multitude of sectors, from high-tech to heritage crafts.
‘British luxury has shown incredible resilience and strength over the past unprecedented few years,’ says Michael Ward, Chairman of Walpole and Managing Director of Harrods. ‘I am immensely proud Walpole, with this comprehensive report, has demonstrated how critical the UK’s luxury sector is to our economic and cultural life, and more than that, that is one of the most vibrant and high-growth industries of the future.’
Read the full report at thewalpole.co.uk
Purdey Celebrates Anniversary With Limited Edition Gun
To celebrate its 210th anniversary in British gunmaking, Purdey is launching 10 limited-edition 28 Bore Purdey Trigger Plate shotguns.
Each are built from exhibition-grade stock, with full pistol grip and solid game rib, made entirely bespoke to the client’s measurements. The steel is engraved with the Purdey Trigger Plate large scroll, with each owner’s choice of bird on the base of the action. As well as indicating which number of the ten each gun is, it will also be engraved around the grip cap with ‘1814’ (the year James Purdey started his gunmaking business) and ‘2024’.
‘Details are understated and subtle, which is as it should be,’ notes Purdey’s Director of Gun Sales, Andrew Ambrose, who anticipates the 28 Bore will be well suited to those who shoot in America, as it is designed for smaller birds such as quail.
Each commemorative gun comes with a package that includes a limited-edition burgundy cartridge bag and gun slip, both made in England from bridle leather and embossed with the owner’s initials. Also included is a lightweight leather case with the traditional Purdey label containing an essential gun cleaning kit (cleaning rod, brush, mop, jag oil bottle in a Purdey leather pouch, snap caps and selvyt polishing cloth).
To complete the package, a limited-edition Purdey hunting knife, also made in England from the world’s best Damascus steel, with a whittled walnut handle.
Berry Bros. & Rudd Opens First Spirits Shop
The UK’s oldest fine wine and spirits merchant, Berry Bros. & Rudd, which was founded in 1698, has this week opened a dedicated spirits shop at its store at No. 1 St James’, stocking almost 1,000 different products from around the world.
The new opening is driven by customers’ continued thirst for premium spirits – the brand has reported a plus 42 percent revenue growth in spirits year on year, with increasing sales across sake, bourbon and most whiskies, and increased bottle spend across categories.
To commemorate the opening, Berry Bros. & Rudd has chosen a cask from Islay whisky distillery Bowmore to produce a special bottle that will be available exclusively from the new Spirits shop and at bbr.com/bowmore-1997. The 1997 Bowmore Single Malt Scotch Whisky will be 26 years old at time of bottling, with only 100 hand numbered bottles available.
Hackett’s No.14 Savile Row Launches SS24 Collection With David Gandy
Hackett’s elevated line, No.14 Savile Row, has just debuted its SS24 collection of lightweight tailoring in a palette of soft light blue, sage green, beige and burnt orange hues. Fronting the campaign is David Gandy, who models a checked wool-and-linen-blend blazer, plus jackets in buttery-soft suede and louche linen technical jackets – all contemporary, yet timeless, additions to an effortlessly cool summer wardrobe.
Farlows Launches Newly Refurbished London Store
Situated in its prime position at 9 Pall Mall, Farlows’ London flagship has long been a pilgrimage destination for country sports fans. The store has just undergone a two-month-long makeover, and now features an eye-catching aqua feature wall, new displays and store layout, and an overall modernisation of the establishment.
‘After two months of upheaval, Farlows has completed its refurbishment and now has a store which properly represents its status and values as a brand, built on 184 years of experience and expertise, as well as the prestige and quality of the third-party brands it carries whilst at the same time being a modern, functional and cohesively laid out retail premises,’ said Robin Philpott, Director & Group CEO. ‘We are extremely proud of what has been achieved and very grateful to our loyal customers who put up with the disturbance while it was going on. If you are a fly fisher, a shooter or a lover of the great outdoors come and see us – there is no other store like it, anywhere.’
Farlows Group has also just confirmed its charity partners for 2024. Its brands are supporting three local organisations: Farlows is sponsoring the South East Rivers Trust, while Sportfish is focusing on The Wye & Usk Foundation and Ark – Action for the River Kennet.
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