Introducing the Walpole Brands of Tomorrow 2025

The future of luxury is here, and it’s brimming with innovation, craftsmanship, and a deep commitment to sustainability. Enter the 2025 Walpole Brands of Tomorrow—a carefully curated group of trailblazing brands that are shaping the next chapter of British luxury. In its 18th year, Walpole’s flagship mentoring programme, in association with Mishcon de Reya, continues its mission to guide early-stage luxury brands toward lasting success. This year, 12 exceptional brands will embark on a transformative year-long journey, guided by the wisdom and expertise of some of the UK’s most accomplished luxury executives and founders.

The Ned opened its lavish vaults to welcome all 12 brands and their visionary founders, where SPHERE was on hand to explore the exciting array of offerings. From sustainably crafted denim to refillable candles and event planning that redefines the extraordinary, each brand brought something truly unique to the table.

Introducing the Walpole Brands of Tomorrow 2025

Smock London

Smock London reinvents the timeless art of hand-smocking, blending tradition with bold, contemporary flair. Founded by lifelong friends Laura Burch and Kajsa McLaren, the brand began with childrenswear but quickly expanded into women’s fashion after the demand for matching “Mummy and Me” outfits grew. Each piece is meticulously hand-sewn by artisans, with every dress taking up to three days to complete. The hand-smocking itself, a skill requiring years of mastery, is brought to life with vibrant, neon threads like “Sour Lemon” and “Funky Flamingo,” adding a playful pop to otherwise classic designs. Produced in limited editions, Smock London’s collections are not just fashion but heirlooms in the making. Designed in London and crafted in Madagascar and Vietnam using responsibly sourced materials, the brand supports local artisan communities and ensures a positive impact with each sale, donating to women and children in need. These smocks well and truly rock.

smocklondon.com

Alice Wilkes Design

Alice Wilkes Design is a luxury wedding and event planning studio, renowned for its meticulous attention to detail and bespoke approach. With over a decade of experience, Alice Wilkes herself is at the helm of every celebration, ensuring that each event is executed flawlessly from start to finish. She works alongside a handpicked team of industry specialists and trusted suppliers, offering a highly personalized service for clients who expect nothing less than perfection. Taking on only a select number of weddings each year, Alice ensures that every client receives the dedicated attention they deserve.

Based in London, but with a global network of suppliers and industry contacts, Alice has designed stunning weddings in locations from the Cotswolds to the Amalfi Coast, New York, Dubai, and beyond. Her work has been featured in top publications like Vogue, Tatler, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and Style Me Pretty, earning a reputation for creating truly unforgettable events.

alicewilkes.co.uk

Cece Jewellery

Cece Jewellery is where the past and present collide in a burst of colour and craftsmanship, all thanks to Cece Fein-Hughes—a former art historian who traded in her academic pursuits for the world of fine jewellery. After studying History of Art at Exeter University and honing her expertise at Christie's and Sotheby’s, Cece’s fascination with the evolution of art led her to goldsmithing in 2018. It was at the British Academy of Jewellery that she discovered the ancient art of enamelling, a technique she has since reimagined, breathing new life into its endless possibilities.

Each piece is born in Cece’s London workshop, where skilled hands forge it from recycled 18ct yellow gold, before passing it to one of the city’s most revered enamellers. There, the design is painstakingly engraved and hand-painted using fire and crushed glass, transforming it into a miniature canvas. The final touch comes with ethically sourced pearls and star-set diamonds, elevating each piece into a tiny, wearable masterpiece. Taking inspiration from the rich history of enamel, Cece blends these ancient stories with her own love of magical fairy tales and old-school tattoos, creating jewellery that tells a story as timeless as the art it revives.

cecejewellery.com

Pott Candles

Pott Candles was founded with a clear mission: to protect the planet and champion local artisans. With 360 million candles burned in the UK each year, the mental image of these hoardings of empty candle jars in homes (and in the bin) sparked the idea for the refillable ‘Pott.’ Each one is handmade by UK artisans, creating a unique, long-lasting piece designed to be with you for life. Once your candle has burned down, simply replace it with a sustainable refill crafted from rapeseed, coconut wax, and natural fragrance oils. With seasonal scent updates to keep things fresh, Pott Candles also offers a subscription service, ensuring your Pott is always ready to burn. It's a small shift that makes a big impact—in both your space and for the environment.

pottcandles.com

Mother Root

We've already got health-obsessed individuals switching out the vodka shots for ginger shots. For those, enter Mother Root. The non-alcoholic aperitif that proves you don’t need booze to elevate your drinking experience. Redefining what it means to drink well and feel good, the brand delivers bold, flavour-packed beverages that are as satisfying as they are beneficial. While many non-alcoholic options rely on artificial sweetness or overcomplicated ingredients, Mother Root takes a simpler, more natural approach—crafted with just four all-natural ingredients, with ginger providing a zesty kick. The twist? Apple cider vinegar, the secret ingredient that not only adds depth of flavour but brings its own health benefits and keeps your gut happy.

motherroot.london

Curate your style

Nestled in the heart of London’s Mayfair, Curate Your Style is a premier personal styling service that’s redefining how we shop and dress. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of individual colouring, body shape, and lifestyle, the team creates bespoke wardrobe solutions that are as unique as each client. By designing a personalised style blueprint, Curate Your Style transforms shopping into a more successful and enjoyable experience, empowering clients to build flattering, versatile wardrobes that work effortlessly with their everyday lives. Your dream wardrobe awaits...

curateyourstyle.london

Molly Mahon

Molly Mahon is a British printmaker whose journey began at her kitchen table and has grown into a globally recognised block printing design studio. With collaborations with the likes of Christies, Firmdale Hotels, Cabbages & Roses, and most recently Boden, Molly has established herself as a creator of vibrant, joyful prints. Each collection, designed in-house under Molly's direction, showcases fresh, modern designs with a distinctive, bespoke signature. Together with her husband Rollo, their children, and their dog Bramble, Molly runs the business with a personal touch, ensuring that every design is infused with the spirit of family, creativity and, most importantly, home.

mollymahon.com

E.L.V. DENIM

E.L.V. DENIM is a refreshing take on luxury fashion, offering a stylish solution to the waste of fast fashion. Founded by fashion stylist Anna Foster in 2018, the British brand has built its reputation on crafting timeless pieces from 100% upcycled materials. What started with the brand’s signature contrast colour denim mid-seam jeans has expanded to include shirts, dresses, and accessories, all made from carefully sourced, preloved garments—some even repurposed from textiles used in luxury hotels.

In a world of overconsumption, E.L.V. DENIM offers an alternative - fashion that’s not only sustainable but also unique and built to last. Each piece tells its own story, starting with discarded fabrics that are then expertly handcrafted into designs that combine style and sustainability. It’s a new kind of luxury: one that challenges convention and proves that thoughtful, lasting fashion can have a meaningful impact.

elvdenim.com

Genevieve Sweeney

Genevieve Sweeney is weaving a new narrative for British knitwear, blending heritage craftsmanship with a fresh, modern twist. After years working for global brands, Genevieve found herself drawn to the stories behind old knitting machines in Scotland, and the disappearing art of British production. Her response? To create a brand that champions sustainability, ethics, and the revival of local craftsmanship.

Since 2015, Genevieve has worked with a network of small, family-run mills across the UK—from the Scottish Borders to Oxfordshire—creating knitwear with a commitment to quality and authenticity. Using locally sourced wool from Yorkshire and Scotland, and even buttons made by the UK’s last remaining button maker, her pieces are a nod to tradition with a contemporary edge. By fusing innovation with heritage, Genevieve Sweeney is ensuring British knitwear isn’t just a thing of the past, but something that thrives for the future.

genevievesweeney.com

MJ Jones

Founded in 2012 by Matthew J. Jones, MJ Jones is a London-based jewellery brand that merges bold design with exceptional craftsmanship. Specialising in fully customisable pieces, each collection reflects individuality and commemorates life’s defining moments. With a focus on innovation and precision, MJ Jones blends cutting-edge technology with timeless design to create jewellery that speaks to strength, success, and personal legacy. Serving everyone from celebrities to athletes, MJ Jones crafts more than just jewellery—it creates lasting symbols of identity and achievement.

mjjones.com

Original Fibres

Original Fibres, founded in 2018 by Callum McCall and George Rutherford-Jones, was born out of a desire to create menswear that combines timeless style with a lighter environmental footprint. By studying the enduring styles of the past, the brand crafts hard-wearing, versatile pieces designed to look and feel just as good in 15 years as they do on day one. The brand began by focusing on linen—an incredibly versatile fabric perfect for all seasons. Since then, Original Fibres has expanded its range to include other low-impact, natural materials like wool, but the core mission remains unchanged: to redefine how and when luxury natural fabrics can be worn.

In a world that too often sees clothing discarded at the first sign of wear, Original Fibres flips the script. Every item comes with a lifetime repair guarantee, offering free repairs whenever necessary. And for those rare items beyond repair, the brand’s Exchange Programme offers 20% off a new shirt in exchange for an old one—repurposing the fabric into useful new products, from tote bags to apron linings. It’s a circular approach to fashion, where longevity and sustainability are built into every thread.

originalfibres.com

Teresa Tarmey

Teresa Tarmey is a true authority when it comes to skin. With 27 years in the beauty industry and over 50,000 hours of hands-on experience, she has earned her place as one of the most highly regarded skincare and laser specialists worldwide. Known as the “Super Facialist” by Vogue, Teresa’s name is synonymous with skin rejuvenation, particularly through her expertise in laser treatments and microneedling. While she’s famous for her transformative ‘red carpet’ facials, it’s the work she does behind the scenes with everyday clients that fuels her passion—helping them achieve real, visible improvements that make a difference in their daily lives.

Having faced her own struggles with acne and skin concerns, Teresa’s approach is deeply personal. She takes great pride in the powerful tools and techniques she’s developed over her career, which she’s now making accessible at home with her microneedling kit and product range. For Teresa, skincare isn’t just about achieving flawless skin—it’s about building confidence and creating lasting change that clients can carry with them every day.

teresatarmey.com