News from the Founder... we've been selected!
I am excited to announce that Pepa & Co has been selected by the prestigious association, Walpole, as one of their 12 Luxury British Brands, for the Brands of Tomorrow Programme in 2020. This is one of Pepa & Co’s biggest milestones since I founded the Company in 2013.
Having our brand values and future potential being recognised by such a respected organisation such as Walpole, really demonstrates that this brand is, and will, become one of the great British Luxury Brands of the Future.
Walpole has worked with multiple luxury brands, from Burberry, Rolls Royce, Alexander Mcqueen & NET-A-PORTER, to mention just a few, and has a fantastic network of businesses and extraordinary people in the sector that we have the privilege to gain access to.
This fuels my motivation to keep working with the same passion and attention to detail, in order to design, produce & supply high quality, beautiful, unique children’s collections to truly be a Luxury British Brand of Tomorrow!
ABOUT PROGRAMME
Walpole launched its flagship Brands of Tomorrow programme in 2007 with the vision to secure the long-term growth of the UK’s luxury sector by building a pipeline of next-generation brands. Now, more than 110 brands have completed the development programme and many that have participated have not only grown significantly, but also found international success – Orlebar Brown, Bremont, Nyetimber, Emilia Wickstead, Miller Harris, Astley Clarke, amongst others.
During the 12-month programme the selected brands attend a series of practical workshops on key business development topics, are paired with a mentor or mentors who are senior leadership figures from across the luxury sector. The brands are also given access to Walpole’s established membership of over 270 of Britain’s most prestigious luxury businesses and cultural institutions. Programme partner Mishcon de Reya also provides each of the brands with a legal mentor.
- ANABELA CHAN – Sustainable JewEllery
- ANATOME – London Based Apothecary
- ARAMINTA CAMPBELL – Luxury Scottish Textile
- COUNTR OF ORIGIN – Premium English Knitwear
- DAI – Tailored Womenswear
- HEDOINE – Ladder-Resistant Tights
- MATTHEW COX – Made to Measure Furniture
- PEPA & COMPANY – Children’s Clothing Boutique
- RUUBY – At-Home Beauty Booking Service
- SHACKLETON – High Performance Outerwear
- SIMPSONS WINE ESTATE – Wine Producer
- SUITCASE MAGAZINE – Luxury Travel Magazine
Class of 2020
ABOUT THE BRANDS
ANABELA CHAN
Anabela Chan is a London-based award-winning fine jewellery brand, the first of its kind to champion laboratory-grown gemstones paired with high-jewellery designs, artisanal craftsmanship, and an ethical sustainability focus. This year, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Anne Hathaway and Taylor Swift amongst other global superstars have graced red-carpet events wearing her enchanting, statement pieces. With awards from Vogue Talents, The British Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Council, the FT How To Spend It named her London boutique one of the city’s best kept secrets. Strictly discovered through word of mouth, her unique jewels are presented at some of the most exclusive boutiques in the world.
ANATOMĒ
Anatomē is a London apothecary driven by the simple belief that nutritional and emotional balance is the pathway to a healthy and fulfilling life. Founded by Brendan Murdock, he and his team have created a collection of organic skincare, essential oils and dietary supplements. Unique ‘Live your way+’ nutrition and sleep appointments are also available both in the store. Anatomē products are available online and alongside select partners that include NET-A-PORTER and MR PORTER. As a brand Anatomē aim to empower you to live your life to the fullest.
ARAMINTA CAMPBELL
Araminta Campbell’s eponymous label specialises in creating exceptional textiles expressing Scotland’s natural beauty and weaving heritage. Taking inspiration from the landscape, every one-of-a-kind piece making up her Signature collection is handwoven from the finest undyed British alpaca by skilled weavers in her Edinburgh studio. Araminta’s bespoke textile design service offers many possibilities; from unique handwoven pieces to the creation of heritage tweed and tartans. Working with her in-house weavers and partner Scottish mills, Araminta has created bespoke designs for both private and commercial clients across the world.
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
Country of Origin is a modern knitwear brand founded in 2014 by Ben Taylor and Alice Liptrot. Everything is manufactured in-house at a new purpose-built factory in Wigston, Leicestershire. With an emphasis on strong colour palettes and high-quality yarns, Country of Origin supply the perfect array of knitwear for modern living.
DAI
Dai delivers the comfort-empowered confidence. Dai are tailored performance wear for women who mean business. They are at the intersection of innovative fabrics, elegant tailoring and minimal, functional design. Launched as an omnichannel, direct-to-consumer brand, Dai brings luxury European craftsmanship to the contemporary womenswear market. Beyond products, Dai are committed to sustainability and social impact that empowers women.
HEDOINE
Hēdoïne was founded by Alex Tymann and Anna Rauch to craft fashion essentials for women with uncompromising lifestyles. Their vision is to transform everyday wardrobe staples into timeless luxury experiences. Hēdoïne is best known for creating the world’s first ladder-resistant seamless tights; fusing innovation, functionality and elegant design. The brand’s ambition for operational excellence focuses on ethical and sustainable production, as well as developing new materials in cooperation with a textile engineering leader. By combining strong values, wit and dark humour, Hēdoïne has captured a fast-growing global community, which elevates and celebrates ‘Hēdoïnes’.
MATTHEW COX
‘Always out of the ordinary’ is the principle that guides Matthew Cox, whether designing his made to measure furniture collection, or finding and curating rare antiques. As an antique dealer, Matthew understands what makes furniture stand the test of time – as a designer, he distils this knowledge into every piece he makes, ensuring it serves its purpose today, yet is adaptable enough to fit a different role in the future. Cox enjoys a considered making process, paring back designs to make them economical, and favouring natural, sustainable materials that become more beautiful with time and use. All designs are handmade in England.
PEPA & COMPANY
Launched in 2013 by Pepa Gonzalez – Pepa & Co is a London based luxury children’s clothing brand, with a focus on timeless and classic designs that brings back the heritage of traditional British childrenswear. Pepa’s inspiration comes from her large Spanish family and British family in-law. This nostalgic traditional inspiration is evident in her designs, which have even been chosen to dress the little members of the Royal British Family. Since launching, the brand has grown rapidly as a direct to consumer company through their online store and flagship store in Belgravia.
RUUBY
Ruuby is an on-demand beauty bookings platform, offering clients the ability to book a host of luxury beauty treatments to their door. From Nature Bissé facials, to Aromatherapy Associates massages, and everything in between, Ruuby has been granted the mantle of the leading digital beauty concierge service in London. Launched in February 2015 and founded by Venetia Archer, Ruuby now counts over 800 expert beauty professionals on its books. In 2019, Ruuby launched its Black Label membership offering – the ultimate in personalised, luxury beauty and wellness for individuals and corporate partners, both in the UK and internationally.
SHACKLETON
Shackleton is a modern British brand inspired by the courage and leadership of polar titan Sir Ernest Shackleton a century ago. Shackleton expedition-grade apparel is engineered for extremes, combining world-class high performance with luxury refinement. Driven by exploration and innovation, the brand aims to inspire and equip the new age of pioneers, from record-breaking explorers to ultra-travellers to weekend adventurers. The range of outerwear, knitwear and accessories is designed in London and made in Britain and Italy using the latest breakthrough performance materials and production techniques. Shackleton is a fur-free brand, and all down is RDS-certified.
SIMPSON’S WINE ESTATE
Ruth and Charles Simpson have made award-winning wines at their stunning, southern French Domaine, for the past 18 years. In 2014 they brought their savoir-faire back to the UK, establishing Simpsons’ Wine Estate in Kent, with an aspiration to create the finest quality Method Traditional English sparkling wine. With 30 hectares of vineyards established on the iconic chalk terroir of the North Downs, the Simpsons saw their first harvest in 2016. With a strong focus on provenance, Simpsons Wine now produces a highly-acclaimed range of exclusively estate grown still and sparkling wines, including gold-medal-winning Chalklands Classic Cuvee 2016.
SUITCASE GROUP & MAGAZINE
SUITCASE is a platform for experiential travellers. Through a quarterly print magazine, website and creative studio, products and events, SUITCASE caters to travellers at every point in their journey, from inspiration through to experience. Rather than repeating underwhelming tourist clichés, SUITCASE embraces the adventurous appetite of the next generation. Drawing on a global network of writers and creatives, the platform spans informative city guides, original photography and inspirational long-form stories. SUITCASE Creative Studio uses expertise in modern storytelling to work with travel and lifestyle brands, positioning them for success via strategy and content production.