Anya Hindmarch's Shopping Secrets: From Wine Gums to Vintage Finds
Ever wondered what everyday items celebrities purchase, where they shop for groceries, and what basics they save money on? In an exclusive interview, renowned designer Anya Hindmarch opens up about her personal shopping habits, revealing a mix of luxury indulgences and simple pleasures.
The Designer Behind the Brand
Anya Hindmarch founded her eponymous luxury accessories business in London in 1987, and it has since expanded to 15 stores worldwide. She is best known for her influential projects, such as I’m Not A Plastic Bag and I Am A Plastic Bag, which sparked global debates on plastic usage and contributed to the UK's decision to charge for plastic bags in supermarkets. In 2021, her brand launched the Universal Bag, a collaboration with supermarkets to reinvent reusable shopping bags, and Return to Nature, a collection designed to biodegrade after use.
That same year, Hindmarch opened the Village on Pont Street in London's Chelsea, a community of stores centred around the Anya Cafe. She also published her first book, If In Doubt, Wash Your Hair, which became a Sunday Times bestseller.
Personal Shopping Preferences
When asked about the last treat she bought for herself, Hindmarch mentioned bulbs for a garden project, highlighting her love for nature. For food, she admits she can't cook and would rely on staples like Cacklebean eggs, Poilâne bread, Estate Dairy butter, and earl grey tea, which she describes as "Foods of the Gods."
Her favourite gifts include a handwritten note and a case of full-fat Coke as a thank-you after a New Year's Eve party, while the best present she received is a Woman At Work print by typographer Margaret Calvert, which hangs in her office.
Favourite Stores and Gadgets
Hindmarch's go-to online store is Anderson & Sheppard for finely crafted British pyjamas, and her favourite physical shop is John Sandoe bookshop in Chelsea. The gadget she uses most often is a Dymo label maker, which inspired her Labelled Collection. She jokes, "I would label everything if I could."
She regrets not buying Ainslie + Ainslie sleep and day powder earlier, calling it a "gamechanger," and enjoys having logs delivered for cozy fires. With £20, she'd buy 10 bags of Maynards wine gums, and with £200, 100 bags, showcasing her sweet tooth.
Sustainable and Vintage Interests
Hindmarch's eBay saved search is for a Richard Saja tapestry to complement one on her wall, and she repeatedly purchases wine gums. At home, she uses a Bialetti moka pot for coffee, praising its design and quality.
Her biggest splurge is on travel, with ambitious family holidays to places like the sunken churches in Lalibela, Ethiopia, and Socotra. Her greatest vintage find is a Méret Oppenheim bird leg table and a Seymour Street sign, reflecting her married name.
Through this interview, Hindmarch blends luxury with practicality, offering insights into her sustainable initiatives and personal tastes, from eco-friendly bags to simple joys like wine gums and labelling everything in sight.
