Aspinal of London bags bumper xmas

ASPINAL of London hailed a bumper Christmas as shoppers flocked back to its stores.

The luxury firm’s luggage, leather accessories and stationery flew off the shelves at its Regent Street shop.

Its Harrods concession and Royal Exchange boutique also enjoyed huge uplifts in the first December without Covid restrictions for three years.

Overall sales were up

15pc in December compared with a year earlier, driven by a 40pc surge in stores.

Founder and boss Iain Burton hailed a particularly strong showing for its core products which include a £495 Lottie bag as it became the latest luxury firm to show strong sales, with wealthier customers still spending big. Burton founded the business in London in 2001 alongside his Ukrainian wife Mariya Dykalo. It sells a collection of handbags designed by Downton Abbey actress Michelle Dockery ( pictured ) and its £325 Mayfair clutch is a favourite of the Princess of Wales and Jennifer Lopez. Burton said it hopes to grow the brand and expand internationally. Sales in the nine months to December 31 grew by a quarter. For the year to the end of last March sales jumped 29pc from a year earlier to £29.8m, while profit more than doubled to £4.1m.