10 minute read
CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH
B A G S O F STYLE
Hertfordshire-based luxury handbag business Charlotte Elizabeth was born out of adversity and royal interest, designer and founder Charlotte Jones tells Absolutely Hertfordshire
By NATALIE LI
When Meghan Markle’s personal assistant contacted Charlotte Jones on Instagram in 2018, it marked a pivotal moment in the young designer’s life. All eyes were on the future princess, Meghan ‘fever’ was at its height and 23-yearold Charlotte questioned the authenticity of the message. It couldn’t be real… But it was.
“Meghan Markle’s PA left a number and asked me to call her, but I thought ‘is this a joke.’ I looked at my emails and I saw this woman’s name, so I Googled it,” she says. “I rang the PA, and she said that Meghan wanted a chestnut Bloomsbury bag for Thursday afternoon to be delivered to Kensington Palace. This was Wednesday.
“I calmly explained that I was out of stock, and I needed to get it specially made so I called my factory and said: ‘we’ve got Meghan Markle on the phone, and she wants this bag’. The guys at the factory started laughing. They couldn’t believe it. They turned it around in 24 hours, they normally take six weeks, but we knew this would be a great moment for both of us.
“The next day my dad collected the bag from Buckinghamshire and didn’t stop for breath,” laughs Charlotte as she recalls the pinch-me moment. “My sister drove me to Kensington Palace, and I walked up to the gates. There were scary police o cers with rifles and guns. I simply said: ‘Hi I’m Charlotte, I’m dropping something o for Meghan.’ They replied: ‘Oh yes, the handbag girl, come on in.’ The Kensington Palace team were lovely, and they kept saying ‘are you happy for her to wear this in public?’. They told me that Meghan loved my story.”
Charlotte switched on Sky News the following day to see Meghan Markle stepping o a plane in Northern Ireland with the Bloomsbury bag on full display. It made global headlines – suddenly everyone wanted to know who Charlotte Elizabeth was. She was immediately floored with orders. “Meghan changed our lives. If this hadn’t happened, I don’t think I would still be doing this job. I have been able to achieve a lot thanks to her,” she smiles.
Today, Charlotte, along with her two sisters Amy, 30 and Emma, 31, work full-time on the business, selling high-quality, elegant leather handbags to 64 countries across the globe. As we chat the entrepreneur, who grew up in St Albans, is buzzing after the arrival of a batch of handbags from their manufacturer in Spain – a year in the making. “I’m sitting in my kitchen surrounded by boxes of handbags. This production should have been in my hands last year, but Covid and Brexit caused delays. It’s the best feeling to see them!”
After undergoing heart surgery and leaving school in Bushey earlier as a result, Charlotte dreamt up Charlotte Elizabeth in her bedroom while in recovery. After years of working on her business plan and creating a website, Charlotte launched her debut handbag ‘Bloomsbury’ in 2016 with the support of The Prince’s Trust, key mentorship, and a financial loan. The brand is partially named after Charlotte’s maternal grandmother, who is a huge inspiration behind her business.
“While recovering from my first heart surgery I had this vision and a rush of excitement. I could see the future. I even predicted that a princess would wear it! It was like I knew it was my destiny. I know it sounds crazy saying that,” she grins. “I always knew I wanted to do my own thing. I had tough days and was bullied at school. When you go through any adversity it does something to you – there is great light.
“My grandmother was a huge inspiration,” she adds. “I used to love playing in her dress up boxes. She had the most incredible style, grounding, wit, humour, and compassion like I have never known – a truly exceptional woman. We are so close, and she loves the bags and has been so supportive.”
Charlotte begins her designs in digital and produces paper prototypes. The formula. Quality, longevity and taking things slowly is her long-term vision for the business. And it seems with more recent interest from a few members of the Royal family, the future is looking promising.
“During the pandemic I revisited my original values and mission: to develop a home-grown business. We will follow the slow approach, which goes against this culture of fast fashion. I hope people see something di erent and unique.
“There’s a lot to achieve,” she finishes with a flourish. “We only sell on our website, but we hope to be in stores soon. I believe that with me and my girlies [sisters] at the helm, and by staying true to my values, that we’ll continue to grow.”
CHARLOTTE JONES
curvature of vintage cars governs the shape of her timeless creations. “Old cars are curvature-led and when you look at the leatherwork inside it’s impressive,” she adds. “I have spent a lot of time visiting car shows and museums. The Bloomsbury is loosely based on the back of a Fiat 500 – it was my first car and I love the shape.”
Nature also plays a huge influence in the luxury designs, reflected in the forest green and brown colour schemes. A keen walker, Charlotte treks up to 10 miles every day – a way to meet people, stay mindful, generate business, and draw inspiration for her latest collection.
Health is wealth to Charlotte after she developed PoTS (postural tachycardia syndrome), chronic fatigue/ME and experienced PTSD from the trauma of surgery. “Lockdown proved to be the best thing for me; I was able to recover physically and mentally. I’ve really healed and got into nature, yoga, walks and healthy food. I feel so strong now. My heart has been cleared and I have been medically cured so I can live my life. I am so grateful for every single day.”
Charlotte’s determination is stronger than ever and her considered connection with community and customers is a winning
Charlotte Elizabeth is o ering a 15% discount with the code'AbsolutelyHerts' until 23 December and is o ering in-person home deliveries. See more at charlottelizabeth.com
MEGHAN MARKLE IS A FAMOUS FAN OF CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH
ST ALBANS MUSEUM + GALLERY
ANNABEL LUCAS
Get to know… ANNABEL LUCAS
AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER (INTERIM), ST ALBANS MUSEUMS
Q Does St Albans Museums often collaborate with the University of Hertfordshire?
A St Albans Museums has been working in partnership with UH Arts + Culture for over 10 years. Before we launched St Albans Museum + Gallery in the summer of 2018, UH Arts + Culture contributed art exhibitions to the old Museum of St Albans on the Hatfield Road. They o er us specialist art curation skills, which enables us to host exhibitions on the scale and ambition of the new and exciting Henry Moore show that opens on 16 December. This unique collaboration between organisations has introduced fresh perspectives, new ideas and visually impactful artworks into our spaces, complementing the output of our own team’s history curators.
Q How excited are you about Henry Moore: Drawing in the Dark?
A So excited! We are uniting the largest collection of Henry Moore’s coalmining drawings since their commissioning 80 years ago. Moore is known for his large bronze sculptures and his drawings of Londoners sheltering from the blitz in 1940, but these drawings have been rarely exhibited. It is often forgotten that Moore was the son of a miner from Castleford in Yorkshire, and as a war artist he developed a detailed series of drawings from sketches he made at Wheldale Colliery. Over several days, Moore sketched miners toiling underground, then worked from his studio in Hertfordshire to create nearly 100 drawings.
It is also very exciting to be opening the exhibition to coincide with the launch of a new publication on the subject, Drawing in the Dark: Henry Moore’s Coalmining Commission,by art historian Chris Owen. This in-depth study of the artist and this commission reaches beyond the exhibition to reveal new insights into Moore’s life and artistic practice.
Q What can we expect to see?
A You will see nearly 50 drawings, several sculptures and sketchbooks by Henry
HENRY MOORE, AT THE COAL FACE 1942 IMAGE (C) THE WHITWORTH, THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
Moore, as well as photographs, films and original mining artefacts from the period. You will be able to trace Moore’s creative process from initial sketches made in the mine, to developmental drawings created back in his studio, to final compositions that he made for the commission. You can also get creative in the space with drawings, trails and other activities. A unique and enthralling programme of talks, workshops and drop-ins also o ers the public opportunities to further explore Moore’s work and their own ideas and creativity.
Q Do we learn anything new about Henry Moore?
A Yes, together the exhibition and book will shed new light on the life and artistic processes of one of Britain’s most celebrated sculptors. We can learn so much about an artist from their sketchbooks, notes or letters; understanding the journey that has led to a final artwork. The coalmining commission highlights Moore’s skills as a draughtsman and it is a rare opportunity to trace his ideas from sketchbook drawings
HENRY MOORE SKETCHES TWO MINERS AT WHELDALE COLLIERY 1942 PHOTO R SAIDMAN
and notes, through to finished pieces. It is also one of the rare occasions Moore turned his attention to the male figure; usually he was drawn to the female form.
Q Is the Weston Gallery a great setting for the exhibition?
A The Weston Gallery is the perfect setting for the exhibition! Visitors will travel downstairs to the subterranean
PIT BOYS AT PIT HEAD 1942 WAKEFIELD PERMANENT ART COLLECTION IMAGE COURTESY OF THE HEPWORTH WAKEFIELD THE HENRY MOORE FOUNDATION AT PERRY GREEN
gallery, with dark walls and spotlights evoking something of Wheldale Colliery – it will be brilliantly atmospheric.
Q It opens to the public on 16 December – do you see this as being a festive treat with a di erence for art lovers?
A This is certainly a festive treat for art lovers and it’s free too! We are incredibly privileged to be borrowing remarkable drawings and sculptures from a range of prestigious lenders, including the V&A, British Museum, Henry Moore Foundation, Moore family, National Coalmining Museum, Imperial War Museum, Whitworth Art Gallery, She eld Museums, The Hepworth Wakefield and Leeds City Museums. We are very lucky to have financial support from the Arts Council England and Henry Moore Foundation to make this ambitious exhibition possible.
Q Do you live in Hertfordshire yourself?
A Yes, I have lived in Hertfordshire all my life, the last 15 years in St Albans. I love the county’s mix of urban and rural, often in very close proximity to one another. I also appreciate how Hertfordshire marries a connection to London with the county’s own identity and sense of place.
Q Where would your three favourite places in the county be?
A My three favourite places in Hertfordshire have to be the Henry Moore Foundation (Perry Green), Heartwood Forest (Sandridge) and Shaw’s Corner (Ayot St Lawrence).
Henry Moore: Drawing in the Dark
runs from 16 December 2022-16 April 2023 at the Museum + Gallery. Find out more at stalbansmuseums.org.uk
