France 
John Arlidge, Kiki McDonough, Fflur Roberts, and Dr R. Sri Ram
Congratulations to Country & Town House for hosting a successful Great British Brands Live 2026 at Town Hall by Bottaccio, London, on Tuesday, 14th April. Lucy Cleland, Editorial Director, and her team brought together around 200 British brands for a vibrant and thought-provoking afternoon.
The event created a dynamic platform for leaders across fashion, design, travel, automotive, beauty, and lifestyle to exchange ideas and explore the future of British brands in a rapidly changing global landscape.
A Changing Landscape for British Brands
The opening session set the stage by addressing the challenges and opportunities facing British brands today—from navigating economic uncertainty to meeting the expectations of more conscious consumers.
There was a strong emphasis on redefining “Britishness” not just as heritage, but as innovation, inclusivity, and global relevance.
Luxury Redefined: Sustainability at the Core
One of the central themes throughout the event was the transformation of luxury. Today’s consumers expect brands to demonstrate transparency, responsibility, and environmental awareness.
This shift is at the heart of Bags of Ethics (Supreme Creations), where sustainable materials, ethical supply chains, and reusable solutions are not trends, but foundational principles.
Discussions highlighted:
- The integration of sustainability into every stage of the value chain
- The importance of storytelling and purpose in brand identity
- The growing role of technology in enabling responsible innovation
Global Strategy: East Meets West
A key highlight of the event was Panel 2, “The Great Debate – East vs West: Where should brands be going?”, where Dr R. Sri Ram, Founder and Managing Director of Bags of Ethics (Supreme Creations), joined a distinguished panel alongside Kiki McDonough (Creative Director, Kiki McDonough) and Fflur Roberts (Head of Luxury Goods, Euromonitor International), hosted by John Arlidge (business journalist and editor-at-large).
The discussion addressed a central strategic question for British luxury brands:
Should the focus be on the high-growth opportunities of Eastern markets, or the relative stability of Western markets?
Insights from the panel included:
- Asia continues to offer significant growth potential, driven by expanding affluent consumer bases
- The US remains a key market for scale and brand visibility
- Europe, while historically strong, may present slower growth in the near term
- Long-term success will depend on diversification and resilience rather than reliance on a single region
Dr Sri Ram brought a valuable perspective on the importance of cross-cultural collaboration and the growing relevance of markets such as India within the broader Eastern growth story.
The Human Side of Business
The event concluded with a discussion on “The Business of Beautiful Business,” focusing on the balance between creativity, purpose, and commercial success.
A key takeaway was that brands must remain human at their core—connecting with audiences through authenticity, values, and meaningful impact.
A Shared Vision for the Future
Great British Brands Live 2026 reinforced the importance of collaboration across industries and borders. For Bags of Ethics (Supreme Creations), the event provided a valuable platform to champion sustainability and highlight the role of ethical manufacturing in the future of luxury.
As British brands look ahead, success will depend on their ability to combine heritage with innovation, scale with responsibility, and ambition with purpose.
The future of British luxury is not just global—it is ethical, collaborative, and deeply connected to the values of a new generation.
Bags of Ethics (Supreme Creations) contributes to key conversations on ethical production, global markets, and the evolving definition of luxury.
Photo Credits: Country and Town House
Photo Credits: Country and Town House
Photo Credits: Country and Town House
Photo Credits: Country and Town House
Photo Credits: Country and Town House
Photo Credits: Country and Town House
