Green And Pleasant
“Made In England”: the best of homegrown luxury, for St. George’s Day.
England’s green and pleasant land is the theme of our April gift guide, which takes St. George’s Day as an opportunity to showcase the very best of English design. Homegrown luxury draws on centuries-old traditions of craftsmanship: from the inspiration of “England’s pleasant pastures” to London’s cosmopolitan cultural milieu, English creativity is rich with influence. Here’s our guide to some of its finest creations at The Royal Exchange.
Aspinal Of London’s new collection To Have And To Hold celebrates the quintessential English wedding, and is marked by all the charm of a classic lawn party. Our favourite has to be this, the Mini Mayfair in Birdsong Hand Embroidery. “Tonal pure silk embroidered swallows and floral bouquets are brought to life with 32 hand stitched pearl embellishments,” the brand explains, making each piece individually unique.
At the centre of London — and England’s — cultural life is the National Gallery, home to world masterpieces from Raphael to Renoir. Celebrating its bicentenary, Boodles’ National Gallery collections showcase English craftsmanship inspired by this global heritage. This pendant, from the Play of Light series, “reflects Renoir’s picture of Moulin Huet Bay — with its bright sea blues, lemony sparkles and dabs of colour.”
Crockett & Jones are proud to be Made in England. Importing leather from the finest tanneries in Europe and the United States, “one hundred per cent of the rest of our production process — from cutting to stitching to lasting to welting to polishing — is completed in England,” it explains. The Richmond 2 is all things C&J: supportive, soft and stylish. We love this new spectator version of “The Travel Loafer,” perfect for slipping into a suitcase.
