Influential British luxury thinktank Walpole has taken Struthers London under its wing as part of its Crafted programme to showcase luxury craftspeople.
The luxury watchmaker and WatchPro Hot 100 Trailblazer for the past two years is one of seven craft business to make the final selection of Walpole’s 2015 Crafted programme, of which Vacheron Constantin is patron.
Since its inception in 2009, the Crafted programme has worked with over 60 businesses, helping to nurture them and showcase their talents to a wider audience as well as offering one-to-one mentorship and developmental workshops.
Crafted’s pool of mentors have been specially selected from across the luxury and craft industries, and paired with their respective craftsmen by a committee led by Crafted Chairman and Founder, Guy Salter.
The 2015 mentors include leading craftsmen and business leaders such as Pamela Harper, Chairman, Halcyon Days, Alistair Hughes, Managing Director, Savoir Beds and Robert Ettinger, CEO at Ettinger.
Michelle Emmerson, CEO of Walpole, commented, ‘Discovering and supporting new talent is a key priority for Walpole and our members. As luxury industry leaders it is our responsibility to ensure the future success and sustainability of a sector which is forecast to be worth £51.5bn to the UK economy by 2019. These craftspeople and their small businesses underpin this success, these are the brands of the future and we must do everything we can to nurture and protect them, helping them to establish and cement their position as luxury artisans both here in the UK, as well as overseas.’
The winning applicants will be invited to take part in and exhibit at a Luxury Crafted Showcase in association with patron Vacheron Constantin at Fortnum & Mason during London Craft Week later in May 2016.
Walpole recently honoured Isle of Man master watchmaker Roger Smith with its Best British Luxury Craftsmanship award at the 2015 Walpole British Luxury Awards.
