The Burberry chief creative officer brings sustainability and British heritage to the iconic holiday display
Burberry’s Daniel Lee has been tapped to design this year’s Claridge’s Christmas Tree, continuing the Mayfair hotel’s tradition of inviting leading creatives to reimagine its festive centerpiece. The 16-foot-tall tree will be unveiled in the hotel’s lobby on November 25.
“It’s a huge honor to design the Claridge’s tree,” said Lee. “It’s an opportunity to celebrate tradition and togetherness through vibrant color and rich texture. Claridge’s has always felt like home—a true symbol of elegance and British heritage.”
Lee’s design celebrates craft, unity, and sustainability, featuring more than 600 hand-tied bows made from Burberry surplus fabrics. The bows—Victorian symbols of togetherness—will be paired with hanging bells and chess-piece ornaments inspired by the house’s Equestrian Knight emblem. A gold crown will top the tree, while large chess pieces will encircle its base, creating a tableau that merges British tradition with Lee’s modern sensibility.
Thomas Kochs, Claridge’s managing director, added: “Christmas is always magical at Claridge’s, and this season we’re honored to welcome Daniel Lee. We can’t wait to see guests immerse themselves in Burberry’s creative world.”
This is the second time a Burberry designer has created the Claridge’s tree; in 2015, Christopher Bailey presented a gleaming installation of gold and silver umbrellas illuminated by 77,000 lights. Other past collaborators include Karl Lagerfeld, Christian Louboutin, Kim Jones for Dior, Sandra Choi for Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, and Paul Smith. With Lee’s interpretation, Claridge’s once again becomes a stage for fashion’s festive imagination—this time with a sustainable, quintessentially British twist.
