Anya Hindmarch is so much more than a fabulous bag designer. I have spent the last 26 years buying her bags, and I now have a wonderful collection of bags and many memories. She is also one of my favourite British Brands.
As well as being a luxury brand designer, Anya is a Non-Executive Director of the British Fashion Council, and in 2017 received a CBE for her contribution to the British fashion industry.
Nothing makes me smile more than wearing one of Anya’s beautiful designs. Even though she is now a global brand, Anya is still a Londoner with the biggest heart, and I want to share a small bit of her 2020 story because it is truly remarkable.
Anya’s 2020 NHS story
In 2020 Anya has gone from being a global handbag designer to an NHS hero. She set her mind to helping the NHS in their PPE crisis.
Anya set her skills at creating re-usable/washable hospital gowns after a call from The Royal Marsden. The gowns were sourced and made in London and financed by £50,000 of donations, with no cost to the Royal Marsden. To date, over 6,000 gowns have been made and a further 3,000 are being made for another hospital. Donate a gown here.
As if that wasn’t enough, Anya then set about creating ‘NHS holdsters’. With the help of Professor Hugh Montgomery from UCL, they created a product for ICU staff to keep their belongings on them during the day. To date, they have made 1,500, and the dream is to create holdsters for all 30,000 frontline ICU workers.
Positive Luxury
As well as keeping busy with NHS projects, her latest collection has been about sustainability. Reusing offcuts, creating a collection that is both stylish and less wasteful. Have you seen her ‘I am a plastic bag’ collection? It is a gorgeous colourful collection made from recycled plastic bottles. Bags, make-up bags, telephone pouches…
I have loved watching Anya evolve and am looking forward to her wowing us all again with another inspirational idea and exciting creation. Read my Little London Whisper with Anya here