Client Focus | 17 November 2022

Top brands for sustainable luxury & lifestyle gifts

Six luxury brands detail what they’re doing to help ensure a sustainable future.

Today, many luxury brands are making circularity, durability, and responsible sourcing integral to their ethos, and are adopting purpose-driven business models.

Here are six high-end companies providing their customers with sustainable products in the luxury sector.

  • AMARA Homeware & Gifts

    Amara Homeware & Gifts

    Providers of luxury furniture and high-end gifts, AMARA have set up One Planet as a dedicated space for explaining how they’re playing their part.

    “We are always looking at ways we can become a greener, more sustainable company,” says CEO Andrew Hood. Most recently, that has meant ensuring product longevity through reselling initiatives, expanding their sustainable brand portfolio, and using environmentally friendly packaging. AMARA’s policy of buying into sustainable brands and ensuring environmentally considered manufacturing methods have been especially rewarding, says Andrew.

    In 2020 AMARA introduced a new return policy that reduces waste and gives back to the community: if a customer receives an item that’s damaged or faulty, they are given the option to donate it to a charity of their choice rather than returning it to the warehouse. The uptake has been extremely positive, with local charities and hospices particularly benefitting.

    "That is an absolutely wonderful idea,” says one client. “I love that you're trying to become more sustainable as a company. You didn't have to include in your email a request to repurpose or donate to charity, but you did, and that makes all the difference.”

    AMARA

    As well as charitable giving opportunities, Coutts clients can enjoy luxury rewards with all these brands through THANK YOU FROM COUTTS – our reward scheme for Coutts Private clients aged 18+.

    There’s an old saying, “retirement is wonderful if you have two essentials – much to live on and much to live for.” Having worked hard to build your wealth, it would be remiss not to make sure you and your family can make the most of it as time goes on.Stagflation became financially synonymous with the difficulties the UK and other economies faced in the 1970s. The oil producing organisation OPEC embargoed oil exports to many western nations, pushing up oil and energy prices dramatically. The rise in the cost of living, fuelled in part by wage price spirals, coincided with stagnant economic growth, and unemployment was high while things got more expensive. This resulted in stagflation.

    Although we currently have an energy shock, especially in Europe, as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the main driver of today’s inflation pressures was the pandemic. It led to a large demand for goods when strained and locked-down supply chains couldn’t cope. 

  • Bamford Clothing & Skincare

    Bamford Clothing and Skincare

    Luxury clothing and skincare brand Bamford’s commitment to social and environmental sustainability is based upon four key principles: keeping craft alive, enduring design, preferred materials, and community collaboration.

    This dedication to sustainable innovation covers both process and product, and has led to the development of a ground-breaking stem cell serum which uses plant-derived biotechnology to replicate natural active ingredients.

    However, as well as complex solutions, they also champion simple ones. Working with small-scale artisan craftspeople in the UK led to their award-winning merino project last year, in which they reduced the industry average supply chain distance by 96%. And their emphasis on new material technologies for their packaging has allowed them to move away from fossil fuels. When working with other suppliers, the brand also pushes for 100% traceability and sourcing from sustainably certified suppliers for their products.

    The take up and support from customers has been the best validation of their efforts. “As more people seek to avoid putting chemicals, synthetic fibres and intensively grown ingredients on their body, we are pleased to welcome new clients who align with our values,” notes Marketing Manager Natalie Krzywkowska.

    In 2022, their Christmas collection, which has been brought to life by British artist Nicholas Hughes, includes a 12 Days of Christmas Candle and Diffuser encased in plastic-free packaging made from recycled materials and FSC-certified paper.

    Bamford

    As well as charitable giving opportunities, Coutts clients can enjoy luxury rewards with all these brands through THANK YOU FROM COUTTS – our reward scheme for Coutts Private clients aged 18+.

    There’s an old saying, “retirement is wonderful if you have two essentials – much to live on and much to live for.” Having worked hard to build your wealth, it would be remiss not to make sure you and your family can make the most of it as time goes on.Stagflation became financially synonymous with the difficulties the UK and other economies faced in the 1970s. The oil producing organisation OPEC embargoed oil exports to many western nations, pushing up oil and energy prices dramatically. The rise in the cost of living, fuelled in part by wage price spirals, coincided with stagnant economic growth, and unemployment was high while things got more expensive. This resulted in stagflation.

    Although we currently have an energy shock, especially in Europe, as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the main driver of today’s inflation pressures was the pandemic. It led to a large demand for goods when strained and locked-down supply chains couldn’t cope. 

  • Briggs and Riley Travel Bags & Accessories

    Briggs and Riley Travel Bags and Accessories

    By adopting the use of quality materials, and through extensive testing, Briggs & Riley can help ensure a longer lifespan for all their products. Their lifetime guarantee helps reduce the number of bags that end up in landfills, and even includes cover for third party damage caused by airlines.

    The guarantee also means they’ll continue to make spare parts for bags that have been discontinued, encouraging consumers to see their products as long-term investment pieces. In addition, they have recently updated their hang tags and polybags manufacturing operations; this now ensures these can be produced from 100% recycled materials.

    The aim is to eventually eliminate all plastic from their packaging.

    “Consumers are a lot more conscious of the environment and building towards a more sustainable lifestyle,” explains UK Business Manager Stuart Webb. “They are prepared to pay a more premium price for a brand like ours that they know is invested in making products that last.”

    The luxury travel brand also has an annual luggage trade-in program to help give thousands of bags a second life by putting them in the hands of men, women and children in need throughout North America.

    By working with retailers like Selfridges and John Lewis, who also incorporate sustainability initiatives in their product and service sourcing, Briggs and Riley have become recognised as a leading brand for creating durable products which are built to last.

    Briggs and Riley

    As well as charitable giving opportunities, Coutts clients can enjoy luxury rewards with all these brands through THANK YOU FROM COUTTS – our reward scheme for Coutts Private clients aged 18+.

    There’s an old saying, “retirement is wonderful if you have two essentials – much to live on and much to live for.” Having worked hard to build your wealth, it would be remiss not to make sure you and your family can make the most of it as time goes on.Stagflation became financially synonymous with the difficulties the UK and other economies faced in the 1970s. The oil producing organisation OPEC embargoed oil exports to many western nations, pushing up oil and energy prices dramatically. The rise in the cost of living, fuelled in part by wage price spirals, coincided with stagnant economic growth, and unemployment was high while things got more expensive. This resulted in stagflation.

    Although we currently have an energy shock, especially in Europe, as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the main driver of today’s inflation pressures was the pandemic. It led to a large demand for goods when strained and locked-down supply chains couldn’t cope. 

  • Mr & Mrs Smith Luxury Travel

    Mr and Mrs Smith Luxury Travel

    High-end hotel service Mr & Mrs Smith is leading the way when it comes to bringing sustainability to the luxury travel sector. Having recently won B Corp accreditation, they can now offer their clientele sustainably conscious travel to more than 1,600 boutique hotels and luxury villas around the world – from the Seychelles to Santorini and beyond.

    By working with the World Land Trust and the Blue Marine Foundation, Mr & Mrs Smith have been able to offset all travel by their staff and reviewers as well as reduce plastic from their operations. They’ve also committed to updating and expanding all relevant environmental and community credentials for every hotel in their collection, allowing clients to make informed and empowered choices. As a Mr & Mrs Smith member, you can also contribute directly to their sustainability partners when booking a stay – or at any time.

    That’s also important because as a brand it helps them set a precedent in the luxury travel space – embodying the profit with purpose changemaker ethos that comes with being a B Corp. The luxury travel experts bring their own criteria when it comes to ensuring their hotel partners are ‘inspiring, innovative, community spirited and transparent’.

    “I want to personally make a pledge and a promise to keep sustainability as a key part of our business,” wrote CEO Tamara Lohan last year. “Through these means and through our future innovations, I think it’s vital for us to play our part in a more responsible rebuild of the whole travel industry.”

    Mr & Mrs Smith

    As well as charitable giving opportunities, Coutts clients can enjoy luxury rewards with all these brands through THANK YOU FROM COUTTS – our reward scheme for Coutts Private clients aged 18+.

    There’s an old saying, “retirement is wonderful if you have two essentials – much to live on and much to live for.” Having worked hard to build your wealth, it would be remiss not to make sure you and your family can make the most of it as time goes on.Stagflation became financially synonymous with the difficulties the UK and other economies faced in the 1970s. The oil producing organisation OPEC embargoed oil exports to many western nations, pushing up oil and energy prices dramatically. The rise in the cost of living, fuelled in part by wage price spirals, coincided with stagnant economic growth, and unemployment was high while things got more expensive. This resulted in stagflation.

    Although we currently have an energy shock, especially in Europe, as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the main driver of today’s inflation pressures was the pandemic. It led to a large demand for goods when strained and locked-down supply chains couldn’t cope. 

  • NET-A-PORTER Fashion

    Net-a-porter

    In August 2021 NET-A-PORTER expanded its ‘NET SUSTAIN’ online platform, designed to make its sustainable luxury and fashion more visible and easier to navigate for customers. The platform features over 100 consciously crafted luxury fashion, beauty, homeware, and jewellery brands (as of July 2021).

    To be eligible for inclusion within ‘NET SUSTAIN’, every brand must adhere to one or more of nine key attributes, ranging from considered materials, ingredients and processes, to reducing waste. The ninth attribute, ’Designed for Circularity‘, champions brands that help facilitate a shift in behaviour, away from throwaway culture, by focusing on solutions that promote product longevity.

    “At NET-A-PORTER we buy mindfully across all our categories to focus on investment pieces that we know our customers can buy now and wear forever,” says Lea Cranfield, NET-A-PORTER, MR PORTER’s Chief Buying and Merchandising Officer. “The newly considered ‘NET SUSTAIN’ customer journey can offer our customers the tools they need to create timeless wardrobes that can be treasured for many years to come.” 

    Similarly, in October 2021, NET-A-PORTER, MR PORTER and sister brand THE OUTNET launched a resale service, in partnership with Reflaunt, that encourages customers to send their well-preserved, pre-loved designer items to a new home in exchange for NET-A-PORTER store credit.

    NET-A-PORTER & MR PORTER

    As well as charitable giving opportunities, Coutts clients can enjoy luxury rewards with all these brands through THANK YOU FROM COUTTS – our reward scheme for Coutts Private clients aged 18+.

    There’s an old saying, “retirement is wonderful if you have two essentials – much to live on and much to live for.” Having worked hard to build your wealth, it would be remiss not to make sure you and your family can make the most of it as time goes on.Stagflation became financially synonymous with the difficulties the UK and other economies faced in the 1970s. The oil producing organisation OPEC embargoed oil exports to many western nations, pushing up oil and energy prices dramatically. The rise in the cost of living, fuelled in part by wage price spirals, coincided with stagnant economic growth, and unemployment was high while things got more expensive. This resulted in stagflation.

    Although we currently have an energy shock, especially in Europe, as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the main driver of today’s inflation pressures was the pandemic. It led to a large demand for goods when strained and locked-down supply chains couldn’t cope. 

  • STOW Travel Accessories

    Stow travel accessories

    Known for the considered and sustainable production of its leather goods, each of STOW’s pieces are hand crafted using cutting knives as well as sewing machines to help manage stock levels and avoid over production. They also use high-quality Italian zips to ensure they are creating products that are hard wearing and long lasting.

    STOW is committed to minimising its carbon footprint by using responsibly sourced leather and suede materials – certified by the not-for-profit Leather Working Group – and manufacturing their products in Europe in a medium-sized family-owned factory, situated in Ubrique, Spain.

    They also use DHL’s carbon neutral service to ship their orders from their warehouse to customers. This service is an initiative that supports reforestation, landfill gas destruction, wastewater treatment and methane destruction projects, which operate to offset the shipments’ transport emissions.

    Committed to creating longevity through care, quality and craftsmanship, STOW has built up a loyal band of the conscious consumers and celebrity ambassadors who care about what they buy, and how their purchase impacts the planet and society.

    STOW

    As well as charitable giving opportunities, Coutts clients can enjoy luxury rewards with all these brands through THANK YOU FROM COUTTS – our reward scheme for Coutts Private clients aged 18+.

    There’s an old saying, “retirement is wonderful if you have two essentials – much to live on and much to live for.” Having worked hard to build your wealth, it would be remiss not to make sure you and your family can make the most of it as time goes on.Stagflation became financially synonymous with the difficulties the UK and other economies faced in the 1970s. The oil producing organisation OPEC embargoed oil exports to many western nations, pushing up oil and energy prices dramatically. The rise in the cost of living, fuelled in part by wage price spirals, coincided with stagnant economic growth, and unemployment was high while things got more expensive. This resulted in stagflation.

    Although we currently have an energy shock, especially in Europe, as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the main driver of today’s inflation pressures was the pandemic. It led to a large demand for goods when strained and locked-down supply chains couldn’t cope. 

 

To open an account with Coutts all UK clients and expats are required to undertake a minimum of either £1m+ of borrowing, such as a through a mortgage or by way of an investment product through Coutts.

To become an international client, you are required to borrow or invest more than £3m with us, depending on your country of residence.

 

We may withdraw our pensions cash offer any time before 11 November 2022. If you meet the eligibility criteria, the cash reward will be paid no later than 31 May 2023. Terms and conditions apply.  There’s an old saying, “retirement is wonderful if you have two essentials – much to live on and much to live for.” Having worked hard to build your wealth, it would be remiss not to make sure you and your family can make the most of it as time goes on.Stagflation became financially synonymous with the difficulties the UK and other economies faced in the 1970s. The oil producing organisation OPEC embargoed oil exports to many western nations, pushing up oil and energy prices dramatically. The rise in the cost of living, fuelled in part by wage price spirals, coincided with stagnant economic growth, and unemployment was high while things got more expensive. This resulted in stagflation.

Although we currently have an energy shock, especially in Europe, as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the main driver of today’s inflation pressures was the pandemic. It led to a large demand for goods when strained and locked-down supply chains couldn’t cope. 


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