11 Facts About Anya Hindmarch

At 16 Anya Hindmarch was given an old Gucci handbag by her mother and at 18, in around 1986, she went to Florence to study Italian for a year.

In 2001 Anya Hindmarch launched her "Be A Bag" line, a service by which a bag is personalised with a customer's photograph, initially to support a breast cancer awareness group, but subsequently to benefit other charitable causes.

In 2007 Anya Hindmarch launched a limited-edition tote bag with the words "I'm NOT A Plastic bag", using her influence to make it fashionable not to use plastic bags.

In 2008, Anya Hindmarch launched a limited edition handbag for US retailer Target.

In 2013, Anya Hindmarch opened its New York flagship store on Madison Avenue that sold both manufactured and bespoke bags.

In 2020, The Telegraph reported that Anya Hindmarch had regained a joint ownership of the company after returning to lead a turnaround.

In 2006,2007, and 2015 Anya Hindmarch won Designer of the Year by Glamour magazine, and became the first winner of the Designer brand of the Year at the 2007 British Fashion Awards, having been named Accessories Designer of the Year at the same awards in 2001.

Anya Hindmarch won the British Fashion Award for Accessory Designer again in 2014 and the Elle Awards in 2016.

Anya Hindmarch was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2009 for services to the British fashion industry and Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to fashion.

Anya Hindmarch was made a UK trade ambassador in 2011, is a Birthday Honours Committee member and is on the Advisory Board for the Mayor of London.

In 2011, Anya Hindmarch became an Honorary Doctor of Arts at Anglia Ruskin University.