Dear Reader,

It's that time of year, when we are bombarded across all platforms with questionable Christmas gift ideas and Black Friday deals (not something we condone at C&TH. As Tiffanie Darke says, 'the Black Friday hellscape is REAL', with a PWC report revealing 80 percent of last year's Black Friday purchases ended up in landfill, were regifted or returned. Hell indeed).

Instead, here are six handpicked (by me), beautifully made pieces from British labels that cherish craftmanship, heritage, longevity - and yes, great style. Before you click delete, take a quick peek.

Barbour is king (or queen?) of creative collaborations that give this heritage brand a contemporary edge - from featuring Wallace & Gromit in its Christmas ad to its collab with Levi's (above), Arket, Farm Rio, the list goes on. Personally, the Barbour biker boots (£145) featured on the Traitors-inspired gift guide page in our Nov/Dec issue of C&TH are top of my list. 

Formerly know as Dry Robe, Delta Roam's A/W campaign featuring Jodie Kidd added some A-list cool to the tech-driven craftsmanship and this 'robe' in chestnut brown (£155) is still in stock. The waterproof roll-top ruckers (£69) are brilliant too.

I have a (sadly fraying due to over use) Lalage Beaumont silk ribbon scarf (£95) wound around my handbag handles 24/7 (they come in wonderful colours and patterns) but new this month is The Ninette (£750), a chic and perfectly-sized new bag in seven colours. Black or tan for me, Father Christmas, if you're reading.

Cowboy boots - a perennial top seller for Penelope Chilvers - are very much back in fashion, but actually its the cosy Cosmos fleece boots (£202) or (even better) these Forager suede hiker boots (£279) I covet most - as ready for winter striding in the British countryside as the soggy streets of London. 

Yes, Cambridge Satchel has gorgeous satchels galore (including a tartan cross-body, Claudia-style, saddle bag ALSO on the Traitors gift guide page, £160) but less well known are its smarter evening bags like this one in metallic emerald green (£525).

Long a green hero of ours, BEEN London has some chic-as-you-like new leather accessories - a tote bag, laptop case and a cardholder (from £75) - the exterior leather made from old shoe leather, a soft interior from recycled shoe uppers, and the padding is taken from recycled soles. The pieces prove that a single pair of shoes (so far behind in the circularity game) can be deconstructed and transformed into many new products. 

And that, surely, is the antithesis of Black Friday... Happy shopping!

Great British Brands 2025

Buy your copy of Great British Brands 2025 here, or find the digital issue here.

Valeria Bava and Coco Fong of
Malone Souliers shoe design