Ally Capellino and Tusting owner Authentic Bespoke names "board observers"

Authentic Bespoke Limited, the owner of the Ally Capellino, Tusting and Budd brands, has named Deborah Lloyd and Giles English as board observers across the group’s expanding portfolio of brands.

Deborah Lloyd, most recently Chief Creative Officer at Kate Spade, will provide strategic advice and creative mentorship over the next two years, working closely with the Group Creative Director Alison Lloyd, founder of Ally Capellino.

On her new appointment, Deborah Lloyd said: “I’m absolutely delighted to join Authentic Bespoke as a Board Observer and consultant working with their stable of great British brands. I will have a particular focus on the Tusting brand, which has over 145 years of history in the leather industry.”

Authentic Bespoke Chairman Stephen Murphy, commented: “Having Deborah’s sage advice at board level and guidance on the future strategy of Tusting is a real coup. The experience and knowledge she has accumulated over her long industry career including at Burberry, Daniel Hechter and latterly Kate Spade, is really invaluable.”

Tusting

Giles English, Co-Founder of Bremont Watch Company, has been unofficially advising the group since early 2020. Authentic Brands CEO Rebecca Simonds said: “Giles is a legend in the watch industry and has built Bremont into a remarkable international British brand from scratch in just over 18 years.

“We have learned all about collaborative marketing from Giles which will be even more evident over the next six months or so with launches such as India Hicks, and a ‘re-loved’ campaign with Barbour for the Tusting brand that will launch in Selfridges.”

English commented: “It is lovely to be part of the team and to be around such a wonderful collection of brands with so much history and potential. As a true advocate of British manufacturing and beautifully made products I am pleased to help in any way.”

Authentic Bespoke was co-founded in August 2017 by Murphy and Simmonds, to enable British “craft” brands known for their unique artisanal or design skills, to flourish through the pragmatic pooling of expertise and resources.

In November 2018, having raised a total of £4.5 million of private funding, it acquired both Budd (shirt makers) and J. R. Tusting in simultaneous merger transactions. In December 2019, Capellino Design was merged into the group, which also secured the services of Alison Lloyd who was immediately appointed Group Creative Director.