Angela Ahrendts Gets Emotional

ANGELA AHRENDTS, the outgoing CEO of Burberry, was emotional at last night's Walpole Awards as she was presented with the Medal of Excellence for her work with the British brand.

"This is incredible but also bittersweet," she said as she accepted the prize. "We kept it pretty simple in the last eight years. It had to be the most commercial but also the most creative. I'm proud of the fact that the Burberry coat accounts for 50 per cent of turnover and they are still made in Yorkshire, where we have tripled the work force. I am so proud of this tenure in the company - and it has taken investment to bring it back to London; the investment in the company and the people to create a culture. I am so proud to be passing the baton to Mr Bailey. I am humbled and honoured - and what a great thing to leave with."

The awards also recognised other bastions of the fashion industry, including Paul Smith, who won British Luxury Design Talent; Alexander McQueen, which received the British Luxury Brand Overseas prize - collected by creative director Sarah Burton, pictured here with Ahrendts; Nicholas Kirkwood, who picked up the Emerging British Luxury Brand award; and Gucci, which picked up the International Luxury Brand award.