Fashion is always a bit more fun with British designer Anya Hindmarch around.
We spoke with her about her Build a Bag program (through which you can totally personalize your own zany and luxurious purse) and why humor is important to fashion.
What drew you to designing handbags?
When I was nineteen and living in Italy I noticed that all the stylish Florentine women were wearing a drawstring leather duffel bag. I loved its shape, style and the ease with which it was worn and it made me realise how powerful accessories can be in forming a perception of a woman. When I returned to England, I approached Harper’s & Queen (as it was then known) about a special commission. I designed a bag for a special offer for the magazine; five hundred were sold and the Anya Hindmarch brand was born!
Why did you decide to make them customizable?
Our brand has always had playfulness at its heart together with craftsmanship and personalisation. With Build a Bag, you get to play with the ingredients, and make something that’s entirely your own—with almost no wait time until it’s in your hands! As shoppers we’ve never wanted instant gratification more and I think the of Build a Bag possibly comes down to people not wanting to be the same as everyone else anymore. I love beautiful things and won’t compromise on quality. This bag is made from the most expensive full bodied but very soft leather. Its simplicity is its beauty and as a consequence it falls really well and moulds to your body but with this beautiful and rich simplicity, it is fun to mess it up. Like my friend who would always have a charm tied on a ribbon to her Father’s wristwatch that she wore. It makes it yours and can make a beautiful and seriously made piece light hearted, I love this irreverent approach combined with absolute quality. For me the two attributes deliver more than the sum of the individual parts. Build a Bag has been on a global tour from New York and to Tokyo, Shanghai and Seoul – I’m very excited and really quite honoured about its Canadian debut, exclusively at Nordstrom Vancouver!
Why and how is humor important to your designs?
What you wear can absolutely transform your mood. I think that fashion should make you smile even if it’s in a discrete way. Playfulness when combined with beautiful craftsmanship has been at the heart of every collection since we began 30 years ago. A really good example is how seasonally we are inspired by everyday familiar items and transform them using beautiful materials in our workshops in Italy to make them in the most luxurious way. Our Crisp Packet clutch quite literally was inspired by a packet of Walkers ready salted crisps. We 3d scanned the perfect packet using up to 100 cameras mounted on tripods to take 360 degree photos – it was quite exciting to see it in action. Then we took the scanned models and cast them and worked with the most amazing second generation minaudière maker in Florence. It is very complicated as it is completely asymmetrical and took many goes to get right. It was a real labour of love but it is a perfect little clutch and actually a little piece of art. It is really modern, and a sort of forever classic I think. It also has a chain so you can wear it over your shoulder too.
Photo courtesy of @anyahindmarch
What does your own customized bag look like?
I love the navy Build a Bag base and then messing it up by adding an egg tassel, a shearling handle and jeweled strap.
How would you describe your personal style?
I tend to let my bag do the talking!
SHOP: Anya Hindmarch
via http://ift.tt/2Fipjrr
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