HANDBAG
e n i o r He
School Notices talks exclusively to the inspirational Anya Hindmarch about her new book, her life lessons and overcoming self-doubt. If In Doubt Wash Your Hair – the title of Anya’s new book might sound like a slightly vacuous statement but break it down and actually its solid, sound advice. Wash your hair and you’ll feel better about yourself and if you feel good then it’s likely that your day will be better too. Also, with clean hair you’re prepared for what life throws at you and more importantly you won’t have that niggle – damn I wish I’d reached for the shampoo when you bump into the neighbour you fancy.
Outside the Anya Café – The Village, Pont Street, London
38 schoolnotices.co.uk SUMMER 2021
Similarly, on the surface Anya Hindmarch, doyenne of the handbag world and famous fashionista, might conjure up an image of glamourous frivolity, but she is in fact the complete opposite. Reading her book you are struck by her honesty, her kindness and her depth. The book also explores her battles with self-doubt and the life lessons learnt along the way. Battling middle age, I found this book both uplifting and inspiring. If I had to choose a team mate to help me reach the summit of Everest, Anya would be that person. Whilst everyone was living it up at Uni, Anya had been to Florence, sought out the factories and was designing handbags from her kitchen table. Yes – she was brought up in an entrepreneurial family where profit and loss accounts were Christmas lunch conversations, but she was also brave and never doubted her decision to follow her dream. Marrying a man 12 years older and with three young bereaved children is testament to her gutsy but determined character. Yet at the same time in her book
