Biography
Anya Hindmarch is a British accessories designer whose creations have become easily recognisable thanks to her vibrant, playful designs. Renowned for her combination of modern craftsmanship, creativity and personalisation, Hindmarch was the first accessories designer to present her collections in a runway show during London Fashion Week.
At 18, Hindmarch went to Florence to study Italian and learn more about the trade that she had envisaged for herself. She founded her business in London in 1987, quickly accruing a loyal following. It was originally her Italian-inspired drawstring duffle bag that attracted attentions; since, she has enjoyed commercial success with hits including her “Be a Bag” line, her £5 “I’m not a plastic bag” tote, and most recently her Bespoke range, which includes a line of luxury leather stickers that generated over $18 million within the first two seasons.
Successive rounds of private investments have helped Hindmarch to scale her company and grow it internationally. Notably, Qatari investment fund Mayhoola for Investments — which also owns Valentino group and Balmain — first acquired a stake in Anya Hindmarch in 2012, building up its ownership to at least 75 percent of the company by mid 2018.
However, in March 2019, the Anya Hindmarch brand parted ways with Mayhoola after a challenging period of restructuring in which the brand struggled to turn a profit. The brand was sold to Iranian-born entrepreneur Javad Marandi and his wife, whose investments also include Soho Farmhouse and Emilia Wickstead .
Hindmarch announced in May 2019 that she would be taking back the reins of her namesake company as managing director, having stepped down as chief executive in 2011.
Hindmarch was the first winner of the Designer Brand of the Year Award at the 2007 British Fashion Awards, having been named Accessories Designer of the Year at the same event in 2001. In 2017, she was awarded a CBE for her services to the fashion industry. Hindmarch is also non-executive director of the British Fashion Council, a UK trade ambassador and an Emeritus trustee of both the Royal Academy of Arts and the Design Museum as well as a trustee of The Royal Marsden. In 2021, Hindmarch published her first book, “If In Doubt Wash Your Hair.”