From Mulberry To Infinity: Emma Hill Launches Her Own Handbag Label Hill & Friends

This is a repost from my Forbes Lifestyle article which you can find here.

You and I both remember the glorious days of Mulberry: pastel hues, girlish charms and the oh-so-amazing handbag collections season after season. For quite a few years, the Bayswaters and Alexas were the only bags that mattered: they were practical, they were hip, they were simply the must-have accessories for all It girls. Emma Hill, being the former Creative Director of Mulberry, the much talked-about and celebrated key figure who not only turned Mulberry into a major player in the fashion industry but also managed to achieve an all-time high stock price in 2012, has launched her own handbag label Hill & Friends together with former Mulberry Brand Director Georgia Fendley.

Hill & Friends is a young label only at its second collection, however, it is not difficult to see how it’s fast gaining popularity and momentum. Both Emma and Georgia believe in uncompromising quality but also attainability – their designs average at £660 a pop (that’s about $870) with entry price at £350 ($460) for a small bag. The business partners did not want their label to follow the current trend of accessible brands increasing their prices in hope to enter the luxury goods market, but lacking the quality, heritage or the exquisite design to match (no offence Kurt Geiger).

Emma and Georgia definitely want to make it right: every bag is suede lined and made by hand in the factory with lots of love and, in true British fashion, plenty of tea breaks! Emma tells me:” I’ve never been a snob about pricing, I like an honest price/value relationship – it’s not about being the most expensive, it should be about being the best in the category, whatever your positioning.” And what about their target audience? “We wanted to create a brand for women like us, with products that are of exquisite quality, functional and beautiful… but they are not about a status driven out of anxiety, they are a serious product with a playful wink and a subversive twist. Our products are for grown up girls who don’t take themselves too seriously and haven’t forgotten how to have fun.”

Some fashion reports have indicated the similarity in designs between the iconic Mulberry bags and the current Hill & Friends products. I can definitely see the separating differences: Emma and Georgia have introduced a fun flair to their young business venture and it shows in their range of products. The metallic leather, the neon colour, the spotted pattern and the functional yet stylish structure are all distinctly unique and alluring.

This is only Hill & Friends’ second collection and the brand’s first focus was to expand the product range to include more micro bag styles with an extensive choice in colour and material composition. My personal favourite (which is also a favourite for Emma, even though she denies having one “it’s like picking your favourite child!”) is definitely the standout star of the season: the Tweency Bag (as pictured above). A micro bag with a convertible strap, it can be worn cross-body or on the shoulder. Unlike other micro bags that are five out of ten on practicality, the Tweency is still big enough to carry your phone, keys, lipstick and all the other essential stuff we girls need despite its deceptively cute and itsy bitsy exterior. The bag features the Hill & Friends iconic wink twist lock and it’s going to be available in a candy store collection of beautiful colours and materials (stay tuned!).

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Meanwhile before the full AW16 collection lands in Hill & Friends’ flagship store (aka their proudly presented website), why not treat yourself to the fabulous Happy Satchel with crazy leopard print in pink, or get ready for fall with next season’s Happy Zippy Bag in the most lusted-after shade of maroon.

Follow me at @DemureAndStylish