When it comes to craftsmanship, Britain doesn’t do things by halves. This is a nation that still hand-welts its shoes, tailors its suits in basements beneath Savile Row, and waxes its canvas bags in Yorkshire mills that predate electricity. Even our whisky ages more gracefully than most of Europe’s monarchies.
But in an age of fast fashion, instant gratification and ‘artisanal’ everything, it’s worth pausing to appreciate the real thing. Not just handmade – but hand-finished, hand-stitched, and hand-thought-through by people who still believe quality is the ultimate form of luxury.
From the precision engineering of a Rolls-Royce chess set to the soft drape of Escorial wool at Huntsman, the brands featured here are masters in the old school sense – but with more than a nod to the modern world. They’re not trading on nostalgia; they’re evolving it.
This curated selection spans suiting to spirits, leather goods to loafers – united by their reverence for materials, detail, and heritage. Whether it’s the satisfying swing of a Croots duffle or the soft glint of a sharkskin suit, these aren’t just products. They’re statements of intent. And in a world of mass production, that’s a rare and precious thing.
So here’s to British craftsmanship in its finest forms – a celebration of the makers who remind us that when done properly, ‘Made in Britain’ still means something.
Rolls-Royce
Chess Set
There are more possible move variations in a game of chess than there are atoms in the known universe. American mathematician Claude Shannon calculated the number of potential chess games to be somewhere between 10^111 and 10^123; by comparison, the universe’s observable atom count stands at a paltry 10^81. Pah!
A chessboard is more than just a playing field; those 64 black-and-white squares are the gateway to infinity. Who better to create a fitting tribute to this timeless game than Rolls-Royce?
The marque’s first-ever chess set is crafted with the same meticulous attention to detail as its motor cars. Designed to evoke the ceremonial elegance of a Rolls-Royce arrival, the board opens in a single, fluid motion, revealing hidden drawers and magnetised, ceramic-coated pieces that seem to float in place. Finished in polished aluminium, veneer and bespoke leather, it comes with four veneer options and 13 leather colours for personalisation.
It’s both a celebration of craftsmanship and a contemporary objet d’art, created by the grandmasters of luxury.
£POA, rolls-roycemotorcars.com
Crockett & Jones
Salcombe 2
We can’t blame the Crockett & Jones team for shooting their latest collection at Lago di Como. There’s no doubt its new Salcombe 2 loafers look at home in the Italian lakes – especially in this fresco shade of pistachio. But as the name suggests, this is still, at its core, a very British shoe.
Handmade in Northampton using Crockett’s centuries-old techniques, this classic last is the brand’s best-selling plain-front loafer. Why the ‘2’? Well, for starters, they’re now constructed from reverse butt suede – rich and durable in equal measure.
Plus, they benefit from a new Gum rubber wedge sole that perfectly blends comfort, flexibility, durability and grip.
£500, crockettandjones.com
Huntsman
Sharkskin suit
Sleek, sharp, and shimmering with history, the sharkskin suit is back. It first became popular in the 1950s and 1960s, associated with suave dressers, jazz musicians, and Hollywood cool – think Sean Connery-era Bond.
Huntsman’s latest drop makes a compelling case for its place in your summer wardrobe. Crafted from rare Escorial wool – once reserved for Spanish royalty – this blue sharkskin single-breasted suit is lightweight yet luxurious, high-performance yet impeccably refined.
The signature weave blends bright and dark navy threads to create a subtle, glinting texture that shifts in the light – more Rat Pack than boardroom. It’s soft, breathable, and designed to hold its shape, no matter how long the day or how lively the dance floor.
Whether you’re dressing for a summer wedding or an elevated formal affair, this is tailoring that performs under pressure while looking effortlessly cool. In a season of linen and cotton, sharkskin sets a smooth, confident tone – cut for the man who prefers his tailoring with a little bite.
Huntsman blue sharkskin single breasted suit, £2,895; shirt, £300; tie, £165.00, all from huntsmansavilerow.com
Sunspel
Riviera 1955 collection
Sunspel’s Riviera 1955 collection, launching June 2025, channels the sun-soaked glamour of 1950s coastal Europe through the lens of Herbert List’s dreamlike photography.
At its heart lies the Riviera polo [far right]. It was originally designed in the 1950s by Peter Hill – the great-grandson of Sunspel’s founder – while on holiday in the South of France, outsmarting the heat with a featherweight mesh known as Q75.
As a whole, this refined summer capsule captures the spirit of continental escape – light, elegant, and effortlessly cool.
Consider it your passport to high summer, no matter where you land.
[Left] Sunspel loopback sweatshirt, £135; drawstring swim shorts, £145; [right] Riviera polo shirt, £138; tailored swim shorts, £165; all from sunspel.com
Walker Slater
Tweed suiting
OK, tweed might not be your natural go-to when you think of a summer jacket. But hear us out.
First of all, this is still England – ‘summer’ is relative. Second, pick the right tweed, and you’ve got a surprisingly versatile layer: breathable enough for daytime, yet warm enough when the temperature drops.
Our pick? Walker Slater – the Scottish maestros of tweed tailoring, known for classic weaves like Glen check, Donegal and Prince of Wales.
What sets them apart isn’t just their eye for colour and cloth, but their cut. It’s the silhouette – sharp, structured, and elegant – that makes tweed feel elevated rather than antiquated.
Pair with cream chinos and a white shirt for a summer-wedding winner.
Croots
Vintage Canvas Duffle Holdall
Established in 1978 by husband and wife, John and Margaret Smith, Croots England is now a second-generation family-run business.
Having proudly supplied Her Majesty The Queen and other members of the British royal family since 2008, the brand is not only a champion of Made in England, but specifically Made in Malton where, since the 1990s the HQ has played host to the arrival of fabrics through one door to the finished article out another.
This olive vintage canvas duffle holdall is one of square mile’s favourites: made from 24oz dry-waxed canvas, produced by Halley Stevenson, it boasts English bridle leather trims and solid brass hardware. Talk about bags of charm.
£529, crootsengland.co.uk
CWT
Hoodie and sweatshirt
Since 1972, CWT has been quietly perfecting the art of everyday essentials. Made with heart and soul in a family-run Leicester factory, its new drop proves that simplicity—done properly—can be a statement in itself.
The latest additions to the CWT Blanks Collection include a range of mid-weight hoodies and sweatshirts crafted from 345gsm organic cotton. Cut with a slight drop shoulder for a relaxed silhouette, and available in nine block colours across two core styles, they’re built to mix, match and endure.
As ever, it’s the details that set these pieces apart: reactive dyeing for lasting colour, natural softness from superior yarns, and a contemporary unisex fit that doesn’t compromise on comfort or craftsmanship. These are blanks made better—from fit to finish, made to be worn, and made to last.
The Regular Mid-weight Hoodie (£80) is your all-season go-to: soft, structured, and anything but basic. The Regular Mid-weight Sweatshirt (£70) follows suit—versatile, elevated, and ready to become your new favourite.
Maristani London
Bespoke
Intricate details and vibrant design executed with fine craftsmanship form the essence of each piece created by Maristani London. A contemporary brand from British sisters Laila and Olivia Maristani, it celebrates the slow luxury of bespoke fashion.
Creating captivating evening and bridal couture, alongside characterful women’s tailoring, every item is designed to empower the wearer with the bold, graceful spirit at the centre of the brand’s style.
Individually designed and hand crafted in England using the finest fabrics, each piece is made according to traditional couture methods and tailored to fit perfectly, not only in size but also in spirit.
The Dalmore
The Dalmore Luminary No.3 - 2025 Edition
The Dalmore has unveiled the third release in its Luminary Series, a whisky collection that seeks to bridge the gap between traditional distilling and modern design.
The edition comprises two expressions: The Rare, a 52-year-old single malt, and The Collectible, a 17-year-old whisky.
The former is the oldest expression ever released by the distillery, and is housed within a bronze sculpture designed by Ben Dobbin of Foster + Partners. This unique stand marries sculptural poise with architectural precision. Just one bottle will be released, auctioned by Sotheby’s this summer.
While the Collectible captures the same spirit of design-led whisky making in a limited edition run
of just 20,000 bottles.
£299, thedalmore.com
