Anya Hindmarch takes back control of her eponymous brand

Anya Hindmarch has regained control of the eponymous luxury fashion accessories business she founded in London in 1987, four years after returning as Chief Executive - having stepped back from the company eight years earlier.

Hindmarch was issued a “class A founder share” in April, according to company filings, making her “the ultimate controlling party”.

Anya Hindmarch had racked up heavy losses and closed down a string of stores prior to its founder’s return as Chief Executive in 2019. At the time of her return Hindmarch said it was her priority to “turn around the business”.

Since then, her efforts have included opening new stores, which have recently started to yield results, with its latest accounts showing a surge in sales.

The luxury brand launched its The Village concept in May 2021, which consists of a cluster of Anya Hindmarch stores in Belgravia, London, including a homeware and lifestyle shop, a store for personalising products and a café.

In 2022, it set up The Village Hall, which changes every six weeks and has been an ice cream store and a Christmas grotto. The company said it has also started to roll out dedicated spaces in luxury department stores including Selfridges and Harrods.

The retailer recorded a pre-tax loss of £1.5m in the year to January 28 2023, compared with a loss of £3.1m the previous year, while turnover increased to £20.5m from £15.7m. There was also a jump of 51% in like-for-like sales.

Revenues were boosted by demand for its cult shopping bags which it launched with supermarkets. It now has rolled out ‘The Universal Bags’, which are harder-wearing shopping bags designed in the supermarkets’ colours, in partnerships with Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Asda, Morrisons and Co-op.