A member-led association for British and Chinese luxury — brand protection, market access, craft and compliance, from London.

Member-led Founded and directed by the brands themselves.
One member, one vote No member holds more influence than another.
Not-for-profit Income is applied solely to our objects.
Independent No government, embassy or chamber affiliation.
Based in London
English & 简体中文
Luxury-sector only
2026 Founded in London
04 Member workstreams
01 Vote per member
Membership enquiry What we do

What we do

Four workstreams, chosen by members

Each workstream is led by a member committee and supported by the secretariat. Outputs go to members first.

Workstream 01

Brand protection

Enforcement & anti-counterfeiting

Reducing counterfeiting and grey-market diversion across both markets, with practical routes rather than theory.

  • Enforcement toolkits for the UK and China
  • Customs, platform and takedown training
  • Shared intelligence on emerging patterns
Workstream 02

Market access

Channels & distribution

The routes to market that matter now, and what is changing next — from cross-border e-commerce to travel retail.

  • Cross-border e-commerce and travel retail briefings
  • Channel, distribution and logistics know-how
  • Introductions to vetted partners
Workstream 03

Craft & heritage

Skills & cultural exchange

Keeping specialist skill alive and visible on both sides of the exchange, from ateliers to apprentices.

  • Apprenticeship and talent exchange
  • Heritage craft showcases
  • Support for independent ateliers
Workstream 04

Standards & compliance

Guidance & education

Guidance that keeps members ahead of rules rather than behind them — including our own competition-law discipline.

  • Compliance and consumer-protection briefings
  • Competition-law guidance for member meetings
  • Authentication and traceability education

How outputs are released. Research, toolkits and briefing notes are published to members first. Open briefings and reports that benefit the wider market are announced on this page.

Membership

Four ways to join

Open to businesses established in the UK, Greater China or elsewhere. You do not need a UK subsidiary to join.

By invitation

Founding Brand

Luxury houses & heritage brands

For houses that shape the agenda rather than follow it.

  • Board seat during the founding term
  • Direct say over workstream priorities
  • Co-signature on UCLIA research
  • Priority hosting rights for events

Three-year commitment · limited places

Voting

Brand Member

Brand owners, licensees & official distributors

Full participation with a vote in every decision.

  • One member, one vote
  • All four workstreams
  • Full research library
  • Member rates at all events

Annual subscription

Non-voting

Partner Member

Law, tax, logistics, travel retail, authentication

For the professional services that carry luxury across borders.

  • Participation in workstream sessions
  • Listing in the partner directory
  • Visibility at member events
  • Member rates for your team

Annual subscription

Observer

Academic & Individual

Academics, curators & independent artisans

For those who study, curate or make — not just sell.

  • Observer access to published outputs
  • Tickets to open events
  • Research summaries

Individual subscription

Fees are provided on application. Every member accepts our Code of Conduct and Competition Law Compliance Policy, and confirms that no recommendation made by the Association binds any member commercially. Request the membership pack →

Governance & ethics

How we are run — and what we will never do

Trade associations carry a specific responsibility under competition law. We publish our limits so that members, regulators and partners can hold us to them.

How we are governed

  • A board of three to eleven directors, elected by Brand Members.
  • One member, one vote — no member carries more weight than another.
  • Not-for-profit: income is applied solely to our objects and never distributed to members.
  • At least one independent director without a commercial interest in the sector.
  • Annual report, accounts and published terms of reference for every committee.
  • Asset lock: on dissolution, remaining assets pass to a body with similar objects.

What we do not do

  • We do not discuss or exchange prices, discounts, margins, rebates or recommended retail prices.
  • We do not allocate markets, customers or territories between members.
  • We do not run a certification, accreditation or approval scheme.
  • We are not a regulator and have no enforcement powers.
  • We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or part of any government, embassy, chamber of commerce or trade promotion agency.
  • We do not provide legal, tax or investment advice.

Indicative programme

Events & briefings

Dates are indicative and confirmed to members first. Open sessions are advertised on this page.

Q4 2026

Founding members' roundtable

Setting the first-year agenda, workstream priorities and governance foundations.

London · Invitation

Q1 2027

Brand protection workshop

Enforcement routes, customs procedures and platform takedowns in the UK and China.

London · Members

Q2 2027

Market access briefing

Cross-border e-commerce, travel retail and the practicalities of entering or expanding.

London · Open

Q3 2027

Craft showcase & annual reception

Ateliers, makers and apprentices, followed by the annual members' reception.

London · Members & guests

Privacy

What this website does with your data

Very little, by design. This is a static website with no forms, no cookies and no analytics.

What we collect

Nothing through the website itself:

  • No contact forms
  • No cookies
  • No analytics or advertising pixels
  • No account, no login

Server logs

Our web server records standard access logs for security and fault diagnosis:

  • IP address and browser user agent
  • Requested page and time
  • Kept only for a short period

Web fonts

Typefaces load from Google Fonts, which receives your IP address when a page loads:

  • You can block fonts.googleapis.com in your browser
  • The site still works with system fonts

Your rights

Under UK data protection law you may request access, correction, erasure or portability:

  • Write to info@uclia.co.uk
  • We reply within one month
  • You may also complain to the ICO
Read the full privacy notice

Questions about privacy: info@uclia.co.uk

About the Association

A single, trusted voice for the UK–China luxury sector

About UCLIA

The UK China Luxury Industry Association (UCLIA) is a not-for-profit membership association based in London. We bring together British and Chinese luxury brands, official distributors and the professional services that support them.

Luxury crosses borders long before it crosses a shop floor: design in London, craftsmanship in both countries, and customers moving between the two markets. Yet the sector is served mostly by generalist trade bodies. UCLIA exists to close that gap with a dedicated, sector-specific agenda that members set themselves.

We keep it narrow: the luxury sector, the UK and Greater China, and a small number of things we can do well. We do not sell advice, certify products, or speak for anyone but our members.

What we stand for

Independent

No government, embassy or chamber affiliation, and no hidden sponsor agenda.

Member-led

Members elect the board and choose the workstreams we pursue.

Not-for-profit

Surplus is reinvested into research, standards and member programmes.

Sector-focused

Luxury only — from heritage houses to independent ateliers.

Contact

Talk to us

Enquiries in English or Simplified Chinese are welcome. Write to us directly and a person will reply.

Membership & general enquiries

Press, partnerships & privacy