Anya Hindmarch
Encyclopedia
Anya Susannah Hindmarch MBE
(born 1968) is an English
fashion accessories designer
.
, to a self-made man, Hindmarch was educated at Elm Green Preparatory School
, a preparatory School in Little Baddow
. At 16 Hindmarch was given an old Gucci
handbag by her mother. At that point she was planning to attend university, but the bag made her feel so good that instead of going to university at 18 she went to Florence
to study Italian.
Noticing that a drawstring leather duffel bag
was all the rage among fashionable women, Hindmarch borrowed $1,000 to import some bags to England. After sending it to fashion magazine Harpers and Queen from an introduction made by a friend, as a result of their article she sold 500.
, inspired by Margaret Thatcher
Hindmarch opened a small shop in Walton Street, London aged 19, with her early products based heavily on Italian design principles. All her products she says are based on the quality of workmanship, and represent a design philosophy which is: British, humorous and bespoke. Her designs are also influenced by her love of classical architecture, which she progresses as a hobby with into architectural reclamation.
The Hindmarch company, now based in Battersea
with her husband as Finance Director, runs to some 60 branded shops in 17 countries. Her products are also stocked in major retail chains including: Corso Como in Milan
; Colette in Paris
; isetan
in Tokyo, Japan
; and Saks
, Scoop in the United States
, and Adora in the Philippines
. Her designs are popular with both film stars and celebrities, including:Elizabeth Hurley
, Scarlett Johansson
, Sienna Miller
, Madonna, Claudia Schiffer
, Margaret Thatcher and Reese Witherspoon
.
Hindmarch is a design consultant to British Airways
, and has designed their highly covetable First Class amenity kits to much acclaim for 7 years. Hindmarch designed the gift bags given to guests at Vanity Fair
's Oscar party
in 2006, 2007 and 2009.
To commemorate the tenth anniversary, the Bespoke Ebury was launched in 2003. Designed to be the ultimate luxury accessory, it is made from the finest leather or crocodile, and includes a secret message in the giver’s own handwriting. The recipient's name can also be embossed onto the interior. A special serial number is assigned to each bag.
In 2008, Hindmarch launched a limited edition handbag for US retailer Target. Available at 1600 Target stores, available from October 12 through December 26, 2008. In the same year, Hindmarch collaborated with Selfridges
to design a collection of Christmas hampers.
carrier. The collections are regularly featured in leading fashion magazines including Vogue
and Harpers Bazaar. Her bags and collections have become so fashionable, they have been the target of two raids on her London shops, one of which resulted in thieves grabbing £20,000 worth of merchandise.
I’m Not A Plastic Bag, using her influence in a positive way to make it fashionable not to use plastic bags. The limited edition canvas totes sold for £5, launching in four limited edition colours around the world, and were selected by Vanity Fair to be included in their "Oscars" goodie bags. 100,000 customers registered online to try to buy I’m Not A Plastic Bag, while 30 people in Beijing
, China
were treated in hospital after being caught in what was described as a scrum.
magazine, and became the first winner of the Designer brand of the Year at the 2007 British Fashion Awards
.
, with her favourite food shop Daylesford Organic, founded by the wife of JCB tycoon Sir Anthony Bamford, located just around the corner in Chelsea
. Her favourite possessions are her 1960's Rolex
watch, and her pink BlackBerry
; while her collections include sea shells
and butterflies.
A self confessed hopeless chef
who gets mouth ulcer
s from the stress of cooking
, she lists her favourite discovery in Vanity Fair as the drawing schools at the Royal Academy
. Hindmarch is a trustee of both the Royal Academy and the Design Museum
. Hindmarch is co-chairs the RA’s Summer Exhibition Preview Party, chairing with Tracey Emin
in June 2009.
Her friends include Zac Goldsmith
and Conservative Party
leader David Cameron
. As a committed Tory herself she was on the organising committee for the 2008 fund raising Black and White Ball. Hindmarch sits on the Promote London Council chaired by Boris Johnson
, and the New Enterprise Council chaired by George Osbourne.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 1968) is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
fashion accessories designer
Fashion design
Fashion design is the art of the application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories. Fashion design is influenced by cultural and social latitudes, and has varied over time and place. Fashion designers work in a number of ways in designing clothing and accessories....
.
Biography
Born in Maldon, EssexMaldon, Essex
Maldon is a town on the Blackwater estuary in Essex, England. It is the seat of the Maldon district and starting point of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation.Maldon is twinned with the Dutch town of Cuijk...
, to a self-made man, Hindmarch was educated at Elm Green Preparatory School
Elm Green Preparatory School
Elm Green Preparatory School is a day school which takes boys and girls from 4 to 11. Many pupils move on at 11 to local grammar schools, others to day independent or maintained schools, with a few taking up places at boarding schools. The Headmistress, Ann Milner, is a member of the Incorporated...
, a preparatory School in Little Baddow
Little Baddow
Little Baddow is a large thriving village to the east of Chelmsford, Essex. The name Baddow comes from an Old English word meaning 'bad water', although this probably refers to the meadow area in Great Baddow as opposed to any water mass in Little Baddow...
. At 16 Hindmarch was given an old Gucci
Gucci
The House of Gucci, better known simply as Gucci , is an Italian fashion and leather goods label, part of the Gucci Group, which is owned by French company PPR...
handbag by her mother. At that point she was planning to attend university, but the bag made her feel so good that instead of going to university at 18 she went to Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
to study Italian.
Noticing that a drawstring leather duffel bag
Duffel bag
A duffel bag is a large cylindrical bag made of cloth with a drawstring closure at the top....
was all the rage among fashionable women, Hindmarch borrowed $1,000 to import some bags to England. After sending it to fashion magazine Harpers and Queen from an introduction made by a friend, as a result of their article she sold 500.
Business
After learning to produce her own bags in HackneyLondon Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
, inspired by Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
Hindmarch opened a small shop in Walton Street, London aged 19, with her early products based heavily on Italian design principles. All her products she says are based on the quality of workmanship, and represent a design philosophy which is: British, humorous and bespoke. Her designs are also influenced by her love of classical architecture, which she progresses as a hobby with into architectural reclamation.
The Hindmarch company, now based in Battersea
Battersea
Battersea is an area of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is an inner-city district of South London, situated on the south side of the River Thames, 2.9 miles south-west of Charing Cross. Battersea spans from Fairfield in the west to Queenstown in the east...
with her husband as Finance Director, runs to some 60 branded shops in 17 countries. Her products are also stocked in major retail chains including: Corso Como in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
; Colette in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
; isetan
Isetan
is a Japanese department store. Based in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Isetan has branches throughout Japan and East Asia, including Bangkok, Jinan, Kaohsiung, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, Singapore and Tianjin and formerly in Hong Kong, London and Vienna....
in Tokyo, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
; and Saks
Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue is a luxury American specialty store owned and operated by Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises , a subsidiary of Saks Incorporated. It competes in the high-end specialty store market in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, i.e. 'the 3 B's' Bergdorf, Barneys, Bloomingdale's and Lord & Taylor...
, Scoop in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and Adora in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Her designs are popular with both film stars and celebrities, including:Elizabeth Hurley
Elizabeth Hurley
Elizabeth Jane Hurley is an English model and actress who became known as a girlfriend of Hugh Grant in the 1990s. In 1994, as Grant became the focus of worldwide media attention due to the global box office success of his film Four Weddings and a Funeral, Hurley accompanied him to the film's Los...
, Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson is an American actress, model and singer.Johansson made her film debut in North and was later nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for her performance in Manny & Lo . She rose to further prominence with her roles in The Horse Whisperer and Ghost World...
, Sienna Miller
Sienna Miller
Sienna Rose Diana Miller is a British-American actress, model, and fashion designer, best known for her roles in Layer Cake, Alfie, Factory Girl, The Edge of Love and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. In 2007, the London Film Criticsnamed her British Actress of the Year for Interview...
, Madonna, Claudia Schiffer
Claudia Schiffer
Claudia Schiffer is a German model and occasional actress, who reached the peak of her popularity during the 1990s, initially due to her resemblance to Brigitte Bardot. Schiffer is one of the world's most successful models, having appeared on over 500 magazine covers...
, Margaret Thatcher and Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon
Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon , better known as Reese Witherspoon, is an American actress and film producer. Witherspoon landed her first feature role as the female lead in the film The Man in the Moon in 1991; later that year she made her television acting debut, in the cable movie Wildflower...
.
Hindmarch is a design consultant to British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
, and has designed their highly covetable First Class amenity kits to much acclaim for 7 years. Hindmarch designed the gift bags given to guests at Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair (magazine)
Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
's Oscar party
Oscar party
An Oscar party is any of the various parties, usually held by entertainment-media corporations, immediately following the broadcast of the Academy Awards ceremony. Some sponsors, such as Vanity Fair magazine, are known for holding such a party year after year, and the influence of the sponsor can...
in 2006, 2007 and 2009.
To commemorate the tenth anniversary, the Bespoke Ebury was launched in 2003. Designed to be the ultimate luxury accessory, it is made from the finest leather or crocodile, and includes a secret message in the giver’s own handwriting. The recipient's name can also be embossed onto the interior. A special serial number is assigned to each bag.
In 2008, Hindmarch launched a limited edition handbag for US retailer Target. Available at 1600 Target stores, available from October 12 through December 26, 2008. In the same year, Hindmarch collaborated with Selfridges
Selfridges
Selfridges, AKA Selfridges & Co, is a chain of high end department stores in the United Kingdom. It was founded by Harry Gordon Selfridge. The flagship store in London's Oxford Street is the second largest shop in the UK and was opened on 15 March 1909.More recently, three other stores have been...
to design a collection of Christmas hampers.
The Collection
Hindmarch designs annually for three collections, which span her core handbags plus shoes, luggage, small leather goods, a beach collection, a small range of ready to wear - and an iPodIPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
carrier. The collections are regularly featured in leading fashion magazines including Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
and Harpers Bazaar. Her bags and collections have become so fashionable, they have been the target of two raids on her London shops, one of which resulted in thieves grabbing £20,000 worth of merchandise.
Be a Bag
Be A Bag is a service by which a bag is personalised with a customer’s photograph, launched in 2001 to support The Lavender Trust. Intended to be a limited edition charity promotion, it is presently available in over 25 countries. 100 style icons including Kate Moss and Elton John donated personal photographs to be printed onto Be A Bags to support the launch. These bags were auctioned to support the American Red Cross after 9/11 and have since benefitted 31 charities worldwideI’m Not A Plastic Bag
In 2007 Hindmarch, in collaboration with the global social change movement We Are What We Do, designed the global sell out Tote bagTote bag
A tote bag is large and open bag, with a handle centered atop each side. In the classic cloth version, arched straps form both handles. Straps' ends run down both sides, ending under the second fabric layer there, which shields the lower surfaces...
I’m Not A Plastic Bag, using her influence in a positive way to make it fashionable not to use plastic bags. The limited edition canvas totes sold for £5, launching in four limited edition colours around the world, and were selected by Vanity Fair to be included in their "Oscars" goodie bags. 100,000 customers registered online to try to buy I’m Not A Plastic Bag, while 30 people in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
were treated in hospital after being caught in what was described as a scrum.
Awards
As well as celebrity support, Hindmarch has also gained critic and compatriot support. In both 2006 and 2007 Hindmarch won Designer of the Year by GlamourGlamour (magazine)
Glamour is a women's magazine published by Condé Nast Publications. Founded in 1939 in the United States, it was originally called Glamour of Hollywood....
magazine, and became the first winner of the Designer brand of the Year at the 2007 British Fashion Awards
British Fashion Awards
The British Fashion Awards is a ceremony held annually in the United Kingdom to present awards to those who have made the most outstanding contributions to British clothing design during the year. The awards include that of British Designer of the Year, and Outstanding Contribution as well as...
.
Personal life
Hindmarch met her widower husband, James Seymour, after his first wife died. She became step mother to his three children from that marriage (Hugo, Tia and Bert); and the couple have two children of their own: Felix, and Otto. They live in BelgraviaBelgravia
Belgravia is a district of central London in the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Noted for its immensely expensive residential properties, it is one of the wealthiest districts in the world...
, with her favourite food shop Daylesford Organic, founded by the wife of JCB tycoon Sir Anthony Bamford, located just around the corner in Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
. Her favourite possessions are her 1960's Rolex
Rolex
Rolex SA is a Swiss watchmaking manufacturer of high-quality, luxury wristwatches. Rolex watches are popularly regarded as status symbols and BusinessWeek magazine ranks Rolex No.71 on its 2007 annual list of the 100 most valuable global brands...
watch, and her pink BlackBerry
BlackBerry
BlackBerry is a line of mobile email and smartphone devices developed and designed by Canadian company Research In Motion since 1999.BlackBerry devices are smartphones, designed to function as personal digital assistants, portable media players, internet browsers, gaming devices, and much more...
; while her collections include sea shells
Sea Shells
Sea Shells is a 1957 album by Peggy Lee, recorded in early 1955.The album was possibly thought by her record company to be too esoteric, hence its later release. It was her last recording for Decca Records. The album is considered one of Miss Lee's more personal records, featuring a mix of love...
and butterflies.
A self confessed hopeless chef
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
who gets mouth ulcer
Mouth ulcer
A mouth or oral ulcer is an open sore in the mouth, or rarely a break in the mucous membrane or the epithelium on the lips or surrounding the mouth. The types of mouth ulcers are diverse, with a multitude of associated causes including: physical abrasion, acidic fruit, infection, other medical...
s from the stress of cooking
Cooking
Cooking is the process of preparing food by use of heat. Cooking techniques and ingredients vary widely across the world, reflecting unique environmental, economic, and cultural traditions. Cooks themselves also vary widely in skill and training...
, she lists her favourite discovery in Vanity Fair as the drawing schools at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
. Hindmarch is a trustee of both the Royal Academy and the Design Museum
Design Museum
Design Museum is a museum by the River Thames near Tower Bridge in central London, England. The museum covers product, industrial, graphic, fashion and architectural design. It was founded in 1989 and claims to be the first museum of modern design...
. Hindmarch is co-chairs the RA’s Summer Exhibition Preview Party, chairing with Tracey Emin
Tracey Emin
Tracey Karima Emin RA is a British artist of English and Turkish Cypriot origin. She is part of the group known as Britartists or YBAs ....
in June 2009.
Her friends include Zac Goldsmith
Zac Goldsmith
Frank Zacharias Robin "Zac" Goldsmith, MP is an English environmental journalist, entrepreneur and Conservative Party politician. He has been the Member of Parliament for Richmond Park since winning the seat at the 2010 general election.Goldsmith is the middle child of the late financier Sir...
and Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
leader David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
. As a committed Tory herself she was on the organising committee for the 2008 fund raising Black and White Ball. Hindmarch sits on the Promote London Council chaired by Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
, and the New Enterprise Council chaired by George Osbourne.
External links
- Anya Hindmarch official website
- Hindmarch's personal tips on how to organise your hand bag at The TelegraphThe Daily TelegraphThe Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...