From the ordinary to the extraordinary: in conversation with Anya Hindmarch
A very talented designer and incredibly successful businesswoman, whose unique and immediately recognisable style is a global phenomenon, sheds some light on the wonderful Spring/Summer 2016 collection.
There is a pattern of referencing the arts as well as the everyday in your work.
Seasonally I am inspired by everyday familiar items, from a crisp packet to the most recent iconic graphic road signage. I love the subtle humour that’s created when it’s used in an unexpected way. I’m always looking to treat the everyday ordinary in an extraordinary way, using beautiful materials and craftsmanship. Developing the ‘Crisp Packet’ was a true labour of love but for me it is a perfect clutch, a piece of wearable art.
Could you tell us more about the ’Apophenia’ collection?
The Spring Summer 2016 collection is an exploration of pattern and abstraction. Born from my fascination with recreating the everyday in the most luxurious way possible, I have taken the patterns that surround me, those that I have always known yet don’t always notice. When tessellated and played with using myriad different techniques, these patterns emerged as something new and unexpected. Some took on an 80s sporty aesthetic, others became modern geometric patterns. We’ve explored each pattern using innovative complex leatherwork techniques, such as fusing, high-frequency heat bonding, leather marquetry.
The collection includes a selection of clothing items. Is a fully fledged womenswear range in the horizon?
We started with a few pieces last season, some beautiful furs and knitwear. It felt like the right moment to add other product categories as our customers want them. I see these more as an extension of our accessories, rather than the launch of ready to wear.
Any other plans for the future?
Lots but I would have to kill you if I told you what. We are currently working on the a series of global events, the ‘Anya Hindmarch Service Station’, which started its tour at Selfridges London in September where the car park was transformed into a stylish pop-up AW16 shop with exclusive Service Station products. The next stops? Korea at Boon the Shop, Isetan in Tokyo, Barneys Beverly Hills in Los Angeles and many more. It’s an incredibly exciting project.
Tell us about your truly extraordinary London Fashion Week presentations, which are more like art installations than mere fashion shows.
The shows allow us to bring the collection to life, transporting the industry and our customers into our heads and what we’ve been thinking about for the past 3 months. They are very much inspired by the collection which is designed quite far in advance. From models floating weightlessly over the catwalk to a giant mirrored kaleidoscopic set: all quite nuts but always done in an artful way.
What is the Anya Hindmarch secret?
I am lucky to have a very brilliant team and we have a lot of fun doing what we do, I think that shows in the product. We also only do things that we feel passionately about, be it a project or a style of bag. Craftsmanship, personalisation and humour are three of the things we are most known for and sit at the heart of everything we do.
Spring/ Summer 2016 fashion show
some iconics bags
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