English designer Anya Hindmarch has been made a Dame in the King's Birthday Honors for services to fashion and business.
Hindmarch, 55, who previously received a CBE, is known for her playful and quintessentially British bag designs.
Since launching its brand in 1987, Hindmarch has established an eclectically versatile brand, complementing stars from Kendall Jenner to the Princess of Wales.
His career
Having traveled to Florence to study Italian as a teenager, Hindmarch discovered a leather drawstring bag that she believed many women would love.
After borrowing money to import some to England, he sent one to fashion magazine Harpers & Queen, generating 500 orders for the style. So, at the age of 18 in 1987, Hindmarch started his business and then opened his first retail space in London in the early 1990s.
More stores around the world followed and he quickly amassed a loyal following of celebrities and royalty.
In 2001, Hindmarch launched her Be A Bag charity campaign, initially to support breast cancer awareness but later championed other causes. The line allowed customers to print their own images on bags. Endorsed by the likes of Elton John and Heidi Klum, the initiative became one of Hindmarch's most recognizable brands.
Sustainability has long been a core part of the Hindmarch brand. In 2007, she introduced the I'm Not A Plastic Bag line of bags to raise awareness about the waste and environmental damage perpetuated by plastic bags. Priced at £5 at Sainsbury's, 800,000 bags were sold on launch day and sparked a huge debate about the use of plastic bags in the UK.
In her typical tongue-in-cheek manner, Hindmarch followed this up in 2020 with the 'I Am A Plastic Bag' collection, a line of bags made from canvas-feel cotton fabric created from recycled plastic bottles.
Throughout the 2010s, Hindmarch's collections at London Fashion Week repeatedly attracted attention. It became known for extravagant spectacles, such as the autumn/winter 2013 presentation, which featured 50,000 dominoes and 35 mouse traps, all falling in unison around the latest Hindmarch bags.
Another memorable collection was the fall/winter 2016 show, which was inspired by retro toys and games: the set looked like a Rubik's cube and models carried bags with pixelated representations of Pac-Man and Space Invaders.
She has also become known for several Instagram-worthy pop-up projects in London. From Anya Mart, a local old-time store offering household favorites and grocery-inspired products, to The Ice Cream project: a concept store returning for its third year, serving unusual flavors like pickle ice cream and even a variety of beans baked.
Its aesthetics
Hindmarch's style combines a playful personality with traditional craftsmanship. From impeccable package constructions to suede leather handbags, her bold or reserved designs offer great variety, which she takes advantage of in assorted raffia package bags.
Hindmarch's designs are rooted in British art, whether references or craftsmanship, their irreverent styles spark global interest. The brand recently sparked interest online after launching a Nurofen pendant, like the one worn by Lily Allen.
Hindmarch is also known for its retro-inspired designs, particularly the comic book eye motifs that permeate its accessories. The eye design proved so popular that the line has now expanded to rattan and housewares.
Its distinctive appearance
Hindmarch designs have been seen on model Claudia Schiffer, singer Taylor Swift and, most recently, Princess Eugenie at the wedding of the Duke of Westminster, who accessorised her outfit with a cream-coloured woven clutch.
Hindmarch's unique Crisp Packet clutch has been worn by celebrities such as singer Solange, who wore the gold edition to the 2014 Met Gala, and actress Emma Watson, who wore the chrome version to the Oscars that same year.
Hindmarch's most refined designs have dressed both the late and current Princess of Wales: fans noted Diana's use of the Anya clutch as her 'cleavage bag', as she used it to hide her cleavage from the public. get out of the car.
