Walpole announces Brands of Tomorrow 2020

Walpole has announced the 12 brands selected to take part in its Brands of Tomorrow 2020 accelerator programme.

The 12 companies include high-performance outerwear brand Shackleton; premium English knitwear brand Country of Origin; tailored womenswear brand Dai; ladder-resistant tights brand Hedoine; children’s clothing boutique Pepa & Company; luxury Scottish textiles company Araminta Campbell; at-home beauty booking service Ruuby; sustainable jewellery brand Anabela Chan; made to measure furniture business Matthew Cox; wine producer from Kent, Simpsons Wine Estate; luxury travel magazine Suitcase Magazine; and London-based Apothecary, Anatome.

The 12-month programme will see the selected brands attend a series of practical workshops on key business development topics, and get paired with mentors from senior leadership roles across the luxury sector. Additionally, the brands will get access to Walpole’s membership of over 270 British luxury businesses and cultural institutions, while programme partner Mishcon de Reya will provide brands with a legal mentor.

Brands of Tomorrow 2020 announced

Since its launch in 2007, more than 110 brands have completed the Brands of Tomorrow development programme. According to Walpole, those brands have seen a three-fold increase in total revenue, with their combined total revenue since 2007 amounting to around 300 million pounds.

Walpole CEO Helen Brocklebank said in a statement: “British luxury has always been driven by its creative entrepreneurs and founders, and Walpole’s Brands of Tomorrow is designed to help give early stage luxury brands the best chance of success as they build their growth. A very warm welcome to Balthazar and Chris, each of whom brings extensive experience and expertise to the programme, and huge thanks to Mishcon de Reya for their continued support of Brands of Tomorrow and Moneycorp who have joined us as a new partner.”

Balthazar Fabricius, chairman of Brands of Tomorrow, said: “Starting a business is hard, producing goods and services of quality is even harder. Passion, vision, energy and daring to risk are some of the rare commodities that fuel this epic endeavour. Along with Helen and deputy chair Chris, I am incredibly excited to begin the 12-month programme of advice, insights, contacts and unemotional objectivity to give the 2020 brands possible odds for long term success.”

Photo credit: Dai, Facebook