Being born and bred in Britain, I may be a little bias, but it’s fair to say that the UK has created some of the most venerable and well-known luxury brands in the world, from Bentley to Boodles. And when it comes to the global luxury-fashion scene – brands like Burberry and Vivienne Westwood aren’t afraid to wear their Britishness proudly on their sleeves.
The trust associated with many British companies is no accident; tradition, quality, provenance and innovation are values imbued in brands like long-established cobblers, Foster & Son, and the family-run fragrance house Floris – both of which practice generation-old skills and craftsmanship.
We are in an age where toting the latest “It” bag is no longer enough and the luxury consumers’ desire for customisation is growing. Bespoke has always played a key role in British lifestyle and sensibility, and heritage brands are satisfying this demand by taking personalisation to the next level, whether it be a monogrammed scarf or an engraved perfume bottle. Here’s our luxe-shopping guide to the best quintessentially British brands in London.
1 – Asprey
Often referred to as “The Queen’s Gift Shop” on account of one of its most famous patrons, Asprey has been in the business of crafting hand-fashioned British jewellery for more than two centuries. Occupying five handsome Georgian town houses on London’s New Bond Street, the store’s centrepiece is a sweeping spiral marble staircase covered by a glass-covered atrium. Upstairs, you’ll find one of the city’s oldest and largest workshops, employing some of the country’s top craftspeople, who painstakingly fashion watches, silverware, glass and top-secret commissions for elite clients – among them, Samuel Jackson and David Beckham.
2 – Burberry
The iconic luxury British brand’s flagship store on Regent Street is not just a feast for a fashionista’s eyes. Formerly a livery stable and a cinema, the 2,508 square metres of prime real estate was lovingly restored with period features, blended with high-tech wizardry. The digitally driven store boasts the largest digital-display unit in the world, 500 speakers and changing-room mirrors that display your clothing against the backdrop of a runway show. Pay a visit to the scarf bar where you can personalise your Burberry cashmere scarf with a three-letter monogram, or design your own trench coat in the world’s first customisation room.
3 – Floris
This British family perfumer has been delighting olfactory senses across the globe for the last 300 years. Floris’s regal ties date back to 1820 when it was granted the first of many royal warrants, and today it holds the title of the only appointed Perfumer to Her Royal Majesty the Queen. Steeped in history, the original store on Jermyn Street has an almost museum-like feel, with original mahogany bookcases lined with archive materials and ancient perfume ledgers with orders from the likes of the Duke of Windsor, Winston Churchill and Marilyn Monroe. You can arrange a meeting with the nose of the perfumery (Edward Bodenham) and create your own signature scent.
4 – Foster & Son
Located on London’s iconic Jermyn Street – a hotspot for heritage and crafts – Foster & Son is not only the capital’s oldest established shoe and boot makers, but also one of the oldest in the world. You can pop upstairs to see shoemakers in the onsite craft workshop, employing the same age-old techniques and hand tools that were used in 1840 when Foster & Son first began trading. Its loyal customer base (which spans over two centuries), reads like a who’s who of Hollywood – Clark Gable, Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant and Fred Astaire have all been clients. Fancy adding your name to the list? Be prepared to part with a cool 4K and wait for up to nine months for your shiny new shoes.
5 – Jo Malone
It’s hard to believe that this bespoke British fragrance house’s engine room was a small flat in London back in 1994. The renowned scent maverick, Jo Malone MBE, is famed for creating elegant fragrances that blend sophistication with a creative twist, and for her signature fragrance layering, which involves mixing and matching individual perfumes. For the ultimate in personalisation, head to their fragrance bar in Covent Garden, where you can have a scent tailored just for you (whipped up like a cappuccino) and customised in a bottle inscribed with your initials, courtesy of the in-house master engraver.
6 – Gieves and Hawkes
For the ultimate sartorial experience you can’t go wrong with Gieves and Hawkes, especially when the esteemed tailor’s postcode is No.1 Saville Row. Formerly owned by the Royal Geographic Society, the elegant townhouse is as stately as it was in the 1870s, boasting a beautifully restored map room and galleried library, which no doubt would have got the seal of approval from patrons Bill Clinton and Ian Fleming. Downstairs, master tailors craft bespoke suits by hand, while upstairs you can admire backlit bespoke military uniforms, a royal archive and the gold embroidered/navy-blue jacket that Michael Jackson commissioned for his “Bad” tour.
7 – Rosewood Hotel
An opulent hideaway in the heart of London – a mere 10-minute stroll from the Royal Opera House, The Rosewood manages to marry an English manor house feel with contemporary flair. It’s full of British flavour – from the British brasserie fare served Holborn Dining Room restaurant to the grand central carriageway entrance that leads to the Edwardian courtyard – the only thing missing is a horse and carriage – and Scarfes Bar, with its drawing room-slash-gentlemen’s club vibe and roaring fire. Want to go the full monty? Book out the Grand Manor House Wing (because suites are so last year), which even has its own postcode.
