The celebrity favourite handbag designer popping up at luxury Edinburgh hotel
it’s your opportunity to bag one of her pieces
Edinburgh will soon be graced by fashion royalty, when designer Dame Anya Hindmarch arrives at Gleneagles Townhouse.
She’s in town to host a talk exclusively for members of the hotel’s club. However, there will also be a pop-up shop in Lobby 37, which will be open to the public on Friday November 28 from 10am until 6pm and Saturday November 29 from 10am until 5pm. We asked Hindmarch to tell us more.
Why the pop-up at Gleneagles Townhouse?
I was honoured to be asked, it is one of my favourite places, and events like this are an important way for me to meet and connect with the customer.
Tell us about the pieces that will be available?
We will be showing a mix of key styles from our mainline collection, including the Mortimer family, the Wilson and the Neeson as well as an edit from Anya Hindmarch Bespoke; pieces which can be personalised to mark special milestones.
Is it still important for customers to see and touch pieces?
I love the convenience of online shopping, but nothing beats the experience in person. At The Village, our little parade of six shops on Pont Street in Central London, we aim to create miss-them-and-they-are-gone experiences and have begun to build a wonderful community. Events like these with Gleneagles are a very important part of that for me, to keep building our community and bring the product to our customer.
What are your bestsellers in the current collection?
The Mortimer top handle is a current customer favourite. It is hand made in a beautiful, historic factory just outside of Florence, has all our signature organisational elements inside and is made to pass through the generations. I love mine messed up with a few charms, currently the Nurofen and Choco Leibniz biscuit.
What will you be discussing at the event
We will be talking about the brand; where it started and how we have grown, our approach to sustainability and the importance of craftsmanship. As a mother of five, I am often asked how I manage the juggle and the truth is, I don’t always!
Do you often visit Scotland?
Scotland is beautiful but I don’t get the chance to visit as much as I would like. Would love your recommendations!
How has the retail business changed?
Change is the only constant in this business. Over the years there have been fundamental shifts in retail and consumer expectation and adapting to them is critical. Opening The Village at a time when others were questioning the relevance of bricks and mortar was a risk but, for me, retail is about not just selling but creating an experience and making people feel something when they interact with your brand.
What's the secret to your success?
Keep moving forward. Sometimes perfection can be the enemy of good and I want to keep moving forward, learning more and adapting as we find new ways of doing things.
What are you most proud of?
The I Am Not A Plastic Bag project was a turning point for me - it came to define my point of view as fashion with purpose. That project helped change the legislation around charging for single use plastic bags in the UK. I also love the crisp packet as a product, it is virtually a wearable piece of art.
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