THE BEST OF BRITISH Post-Brexit: What does it mean to British Craftspeople and Artisans in the Luxury Property Industry?

THE LUXURY PROPERTY FORUM HILL HOUSE INTERIORS01 5KEY FINDINGS

1. The impact of Brexit on the future of Luxury British craftsmanship will never usurp the uniqueness of what it means to be a British brand in the niche of luxury craftsmanship, which is internationally renowned for its quality, longevity and dependability. 2. Luxury consumers purchasing artisan products are educated, discerning and expect the highest of quality – and they are prepared to pay for it. They also however crave heritage and stories surrounding each bespoke piece. In spite of Brexit, the de- mand for such products will always be there and so will the consumer’s ability and desire to pay for such products. 3. Whilst the actual impact of Brexit is uncer- tain, Brexit has been looming on the horizon for a long period of time. This allowed forward thinking luxury British artisans and craftspeople to prepare in advance for consequences such as cost increases, time delays and logistical difficulties. 4. Most luxury British artisans and craftspeople have a global reach which extends far be- yond Europe. This provides security against uncertainties and experience operating in an international market. 5. The importance of community and long-lasting relationships is paramount. Well established companies will not stop trading with their European cousins and will support luxury British artisans and craftspeople to get through difficult times. We are better together. 1 3 5 2 4

THE LUXURY PROPERTY FORUM HILL HOUSE INTERIORS03 INTRODUCTION In spite of Brexit (and indeed the pandemic) the luxury property sector has fared well and remains consistently desirable with both domestic and international investment, experts said in this thought leadership article. The resilience of the luxury property market, in particular in Prime Central London, has in turn meant that development of prime property, has not dwindled and has continued even through the coronavirus pandemic. Knight Frank reported that the number of transactions in prime central London was 12% higher in January 2021 than the same month last year. Property Vision reported that in Prime Central London which consists of 6,482 units, 17% of those are in the planning process, 53% with permission and 30% under construction. Even taking into account those that fail to get planning permission, those that fail to get built and those that are already sold at this stage, there are still an estimated 3,565 Prime Central London developments still in the pipeline. A distinctive feature of super prime developments is the team of specialist craftspeople and artisans involved in designing, manufacturing and installing everything from bespoke joinery and furniture, ornate carpets, rare stoneware, beautiful lighting and to fine furnishings and pieces of art. All these elements come together and create something unique for the client and epitomise the essence of a luxury property development. Britain is a historic hub for expert craftspeople and artisans. The pool of creative talent, the outstanding level of quality and established client base means that British luxury supplier brands are renowned across the industry and their craftsmanship can be found in super prime developments, yachts and hospitality all over the world. Whilst the impact of Brexit remains uncertain amongst craftspeople and artisans, the strength of being a British brand operating at the highest standard with a reputation honed over many years, means that these specialists may well be able to weather the storm. Further, there is no doubt that the luxury property industry is global in nature. Investment from ultra-high net worth individuals comes from all over the world: from China, India, the Middle East and the US, as well Europe. As such, British craftspeople and artisans are not so reliant on the European market for investment in their bespoke products and with growing desire to buy British many are looking to their relationships within the UK to retain the quality expected from their customers. For this Thought Leadership Article, The Luxury Property Forum (in partnership with Hill House Interiors) gained unique insights from over 15 specialist British craftspeople and artisans. We asked them what it means to be a British brand operating in the luxury property industry and what they predict the impact of Brexit will be on their business. High-profile insights have been provided by Lanserring, Hill House Interiors, Fameed Khalique, Bill Cleyndert and Co, Aiveen Daly, SYLKATM, Triptych and others. See Notes to the Editor for the full list of interviewees.

04 Luxury British craftsmanship is known around the world for its quality, longevity and dependability. Their solid British heritage and their long-established relationships with other British artisans and craftspeople, go to the root of most of the brands’ identities and will aid in tackling future adversities. Luxury British craftsmanship is known around the world for its quality, longevity and dependability. Their solid British heritage and their long-established relationships with other British artisans and craftspeople, go to the root of most of the brands’ identities and will aid in tackling future adversities. “Being a British brand speaks luxury. One needs only look to the brands of our heritage – Rolls Royce, Harrods, Ercol, Liberty – to know that British design unequivocally means elegance” says David Harber, managing director of David Harber Ltd, best known for his award-winning outdoor sculptures. He went on to say that British design is so commonly associated with craftmanship and quality and his team achieves this by marrying traditional techniques with innovative methods to produce products that last, and become future heirlooms for their owners. Jane Adams founder and creative director of Author Interiors, a specialist curator and retailer of British handcrafted furniture, also drew upon the importance of heritage “Being a British brand in the luxury property industry allows us to follow in the footsteps of legendary luxury and heritage brands before us.” The history of British design and the status that provides is often what clients are buying into. Being an established British brand operating at the highest level presents craftspeople and artisans the opportunity to tap into a rich history of traditional and ancient crafting methods, some of which are sadly in danger of becoming extinct. Matt Gabb, managing director at Triptych, a design-centric British kitchen, joinery and furniture studio commented that despite Britain’s changing reputation on the world stage, when it comes to the luxury property sector, Britishness is still an overwhelming positive and powerful differentiating attribute. “Britishness is our point of difference, particularly in sectors where the competition tends not to be British, or products are not made in our homeland.” However the point was made that simply being British is not enough and outstanding quality and desirability will always trump Britishness. David Harber Author Interiors What is the importance of being a British craftsperson and or an artisan working in the luxury property industry?

THE LUXURY PROPERTY FORUM HILL HOUSE INTERIORS05 These British craftspeople and artisans have an international client base and their hand-crafted bespoke work is coveted by ultra-high net worth individuals, developers and interior designers across the globe. Aiveen Daly, founder of Aiveen Daly Ltd, a London-based textile artistry studio said “British makers have long had a great international reputation for marrying high creativity with craftsmanship.” British craftsmanship is held in high esteem and on the international stage is still at the forefront of design. These skills are passed down through generations and are only half by a few very talented artisans: “It’s nice to be considered part of that long history of respected artisans, carrying the torch so to speak.” Tim Butcher, cofounder of Fromental, which specialises in hand-painted and hand- embroidered wallcoverings, commented that whilst a British brand, Fromental since inception has an international approach to business, with their studios in China and our offices in New York, Hong Kong and Dubai. Toby Clarke, Sales Director of Anka Metal Coverings, a family run business producing museum- quality furniture echoed the sentiment that the uniqueness of British craftsmanship exists on an international stage “We take pride in the fact that there are very few people in the world that are capable of doing what we do. To now be one of the market leaders in the luxury property industry, both in the UK and globally makes us as a family and team extremely proud.” This view was shared by Gareth Evans, owner of Waterguilders, a luxury surface design studio, that due to the UK’s unique position in having some of the “most internationally well-respected, knowledgeable and innovative designers serving a global market- place” it provides their studio increasing opportunities to provide their services all over the world for high profile projects. Aiveen Daly Fromental Anka Metal Coverings Waterguilders

06 However regardless of operating globally, the hub for all these craftspeople and artisans is Britain. Bernd Radaschitz, founder and managing director of LANSERRING Group commented on the importance of London for their brand “As a global hotspot for design talent, London was the natural choice to establish a new global brand. Positioning LANSERRING at the epicentre of an increasingly meritocratic design industry meant that we benefit from its rising talents, cultural diversity and international outlook.” London’s pool of talent was also noted by Steve Farell, founder and managing director of SYLKATM leading producer of luxury carpets and rugs. Although working internationally, SYLKATM’s London headquarters continues to be a hub for much of its work, which sees its team of talented designers and fitters travel around the world to create stunning interiors. Whilst British craftspeople and artisans are known for their amazing work and creating products of the highest quality, most have long established relationships with other complementary businesses that are integral to them delivering such quality. LANSERRING Group SYLKATM

THE LUXURY PROPERTY FORUM HILL HOUSE INTERIORS07 Sharon Marston who specialises in bespoke light installations said “The artisans I work with are small cottage industries dotted around the UK, ranging from glassblowers and ceramicists, to our metalwork engineers, and my close relationship with each of these is what brings the intricate detail and quality of my work to life. I have been working with many of my suppliers for 20 years and will often visit the various workshops so that I can explore the processes and understand what is achievable, before weaving this into my design. Each project is a collaboration, so the British craftmanship applied to every individual piece created really shines through.” The same sentiment was shared by Pritesh Lad, founder of St James Interiors, a bespoke joinery and furniture company. With all their work handcrafted by talented craftspeople in their London based workshop, they source local British timber wherever possible and work with local artisans. “This supports the company’s ethos of sustainability and supporting local labour and protecting traditional crafts within the UK. All these factors contribute as an attractive feature when considering british luxury and bespoke craftsmanship.” It is essential to keep these traditions alive and to ensure that the skills required for bespoke craftsmanship are not forgotten. This is the exactly the approach taken by Bill Cleyndert & Co, leading British manufacturer of exquisite bespoke furniture, cabinetry and specialist joinery. As an established British company, they consider it their duty to be proactive in preserving traditional hand skills and techniques and developing the next generation of craftsmen. It is essential to keep these traditions alive and to ensure that the skills required for bespoke craftsmanship are not forgotten. This is the exactly the approach taken by Bill Cleyndert & Co, leading British manufacturer of exquisite bespoke furniture, cabinetry and specialist joinery. As an established British company, they consider it their duty to be proactive in preserving traditional hand skills and techniques and developing the next generation of craftsmen. Mandi Cleyndert, contracts manager of Bill Cleyndert & Co said “Availability and investment in the education of technical skills is quite frankly lacklustre at best in the UK right now. It is really up to individual companies to keep flying the flag for training and development in practical skills and crafts. We are very fortunate to partner with Rycotewood College for our inhouse Apprenticeship Program, but we shouldn’t have to go look as far away as Oxford to find a good college to provide the right quality of training for young team members. Future Craftspeople need to understand not just the traditional techniques, but also understand and embrace modern design and manufacturing methods.” Sharon Marston St James Interiors

08 What will the impact of Brexit be on British craftspeople and artisans working in the luxury property industry? The decision to leave the EU was made four years ago and as such, those working in the luxury property sector had time to prepare despite the fact that the actual impact of Brexit was uncertain. Radaschitz of Lanserring commented on the measures that they put in place “When Brexit was announced in 2016, our primary concerns were currency fluctuations and delays at the border. We chose to absorb the currency fluctuations and to add a week to our delivery schedules. It is fortunate that our workshop products do not attract tariffs when they travel between Austria and the UK.” Cleyndert of Bill Cleyndert & Co, commented that they were more concerned with potential shortages in materials coming in from other European countries as a result of Brexit. She said “We planned for shortages in the usual basic materials but there are somethings you can’t necessarily anticipate. We found supplies of foam for upholstery work, drawer runners from Denmark and specialist glass were a problem – and Covid disruption didn’t help. And we work with many European specialist subcontractors who interface closely with our works such as specialist plasterwork or hand decoration which makes sequencing more complicated.” Lanserring Bill Cleyndert & Co

THE LUXURY PROPERTY FORUM HILL HOUSE INTERIORS09 Preparations for Brexit were being made across the industry, however as no one could predict whether a deal would be reached and every eventuality needed to be considered. Vardit Lunzer joint managing director of Quintessa, an international art consultancy and studio, said that in case there was no deal, they stockpiled the EU-sourced items that they used most frequently. They expected that prices may increase on their imported mouldings and they knew they would have more paperwork and admin on buying and selling from and into Europe. However, Lunzer said “What we also know is that things tend to settle down, and once the teething problems are sorted, we will get used to the new way of working.” The view that the impact of Brexit would be short lived was shared by a many. Moreover, that the respect and desire for British craftsmanship and quality of the products as well as established industry relationships would be stronger than the impact of Brexit. Evans from Waterguilders said “Whilst Brexit raises concerns from a short term and practical perspective, we trust that the unique finishes supplied by the Studio, combined with strong relationships with design clients, and the pipeline of projects already in place will put us in a strong position to weather any short-term disruptions.” Gilly Nicolson, owner of Gilly Nicolson Bespoke Bedlinen which imports from Europe expanded on this point and said “Brexit will impact our importing from Portugal but we feel confident any disruption will be short- lived. Indeed, we are looking to import even more from the country and have subsequently established an office there so our supply chain remains efficient.” However, given the international reach of these craftspeople and artisans, it clear that their reputation and client list extends will beyond Europe. Farell from SYLKATM said “Thankfully, SYLKATM has a long history of working overseas and has supplied products and services to many nations outside of the EU in the past”. Quintessa Gilly Nicolson Bespoke Bedlinen

10 This international experience meant that SYLKATM were already well versed in custom procedures and working arrangements. Duncan MacKellar, creative director and founder of Armourcoat Ltd, manufacturer and specialist contractor of luxury polished plaster decorative wall finishes said “With greater complexity we recognise the challenges Brexit presents for many, but we see huge opportunities and are working on strategic resources to further develop our British brand on the world stage.” Helen Bygraves, co-founder and co-director of Hill House Interiors said “Although we felt slightly hesitant when considering the full potential impact of Brexit, we were absolutely ready to embrace these changes, and certainly prepared to adapt our business as necessary. This was helped by our unfaltering belief here at Hill House that the luxury design world in the UK is robust and resilient. We have of course strengthened our relationships with our wonderfully eclectic, world- beating, UK based partners, but have also been reminded of the strong ties we will always have with companies in the EU and beyond. Keeping the ties strong between us all is the only way to ensure long term success and viability for our industry.” Hill House Interiors Armourcoat

THE LUXURY PROPERTY FORUM HILL HOUSE INTERIORS11 The luxury property community is a close one (especially amongst craftspeople and artisans), and whilst the community is close in Britain, there are strong ties and long-lasting relationships which exist all over the globe. No matter how far the global reach, Europe will be an important ally to these British craftspeople and artisans and an important part of their future. Daly of Aiveen Daly said “Brexit is a challenge certainly but we’ve always had a global outlook and strong international clientele. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with our top designers and partners in France, Germany and Italy as well as making some new friends further afield.” This view was echoed by Butcher of Fromental who said “With Brexit we want to embrace stronger ties with agencies and events in continental Europe, to continue the close relationship which fuels so much mutual inspiration in the design industry. Though there will be further administration on the details of trade, the collaborative and creative spirit will continue.” However, there is an increasing desire to buy British and deep- rooted relationships existing between craftspeople and artisans in this country. Gabb of Triptych said, “We have a strong homegrown supply chain, so the future holds some promise as we will, no doubt, start to see a demand increase for British based manufacturers. We’ll continue to strengthen the bond and relationships with our suppliers, ensuring we are well placed to support one another.” An open and honest relationship with the supply chain is therefore paramount. Craftspeople and artisans need to find the balance between looking inwardly to Britain and outwardly to the rest of the world. Fameed Khalique, owner and managing director of Fameed Khalique, the go-to place for exquisite surface materials said “We work with crafts people and artisans from all over the world to source our range of innovative materials, which allows us to push and thrive on challenging projects. This in turn means that as a British brand we have worldwide recognition and presence in the market and can benefit from the reputation of the UK luxury property market.” However, the more established the brand the more experience a company has to weather the storm of Brexit. With long lasting relationships and understanding of the resilience of the luxury property industry one can approach events such as Brexit with some confidence. Khalique said “We have been working on global projects for such a long time that we are used to working with international suppliers and shipping our products to clients all around the world. The industry is very resourceful and the relationships that we have made are long lasting, meaning that we find ways to work together on any challenges, whether that be Brexit or against the backdrop of the current pandemic.” Triptych Fameed Khalique

12 CONCLUSION The uncertainties surrounding the impact of Brexit on British craftspeople and artisans exist. However, Brexit has been a long time coming and has not come as a shock in comparison to the coronavirus pandemic. The luxury property industry is resilient and adaptable and the craftspeople and artisans working within this industry are experienced and resourceful, as well as talented. The quality of British craftsmanship is renowned not only across Europe but across the world. Whilst there is a focus on buying British and working closely with British craftspeople and artisans, the clients are international and have been for quite some time. However, perhaps most importantly these craftspeople and artisans are part of a wider community that supports each other and have long lasting relationships to stand together through difficult times. The close network of established British brands operating at the highest level within in the luxury property industry, will weather storms bringing uncertainty together. The importance of community and deep-rooted ties is crucial to survival and ultimately, we are better together. Notes to the Editors: This Thought Leadership Article was conducted by The Luxury Property Forum, the official forum for the luxury property and construction industry in partnership with Hill House Interiors, a multi award winning interior design studio. Here is a full list of interviewees who were interviewed for this Article (not in any order): 1. David Harber, managing director of David Harber Ltd 2. Jane Adams founder and creative director of Author Interiors 3. Matthew Gabb, managing director at Triptych 4. Aiveen Daly, founder of Aiveen Daly Ltd 5. Tim Butcher, cofounder of Fromental 6. Toby Clarke, sales director of Anka Metal Coverings 7. Helen Bygraves, co-founder and co-director of Hill House Interiors 8. Gareth Evans, owner of Waterguilders 9. Bernd Radaschitz, founder and managing director of LANSERRING Group 10. Steve Farell, founder and managing director of SYLKATM 11. Sharon Marston who specialises in bespoke light installations 12. Pritesh Lad, founder of St James Interiors 13. Mandi Cleyndert, contracts manager of Bill Cleyndert & Co 14. Vardit Lunzer joint managing director of Quintessa 15. Gilly Nicolson, owner of Gilly Nicolson Bespoke Bedlinen 16. Duncan MacKellar, creative director and founder of Armourcoat Ltd 17. Fameed Khalique, owner and managing director of Fameed Khalique

THE LUXURY PROPERTY FORUM HILL HOUSE INTERIORS13 The Luxury Property Forum The Luxury Property Forum is the official forum for the luxury property industry, bringing together highly experienced and devoted members handpicked from every discipline. We facilitate the advancement and continuous growth of the luxury property industry, through developing strong business collaborations and cultivating growth opportunities as well as sharing knowledge, experience and contacts. We are more than just a network, but are a forum for the future. Visit: www.theluxurypropertyforum.com If you would like to speak to any of the interviewees above or to The Luxury Property Forum please contact Priya Rawal, Founder and CEO, at priya@ theluxurypropertyforum.com or +44 (0)7719 970747. Hill House Interiors Offering a professional and personalised service, Hill House Interiors are adept in creating high- end interiors. Our impressive array of award-winning projects across the world is all inspired by our co-founders, Jenny Weiss and Helen Bygraves, who for over twenty years have challenged the way interiors and product design are perceived and practised. Visit: www.hillhouseinteriors.com If you would like to speak to Hill House Interiors, please contact, Helen Bygraves at Hill House Interiors at helen@ hillhouseinteriors.com or 01932 858 900. Hill House Interiors