Tell me about the #LeatherTruthfully campaign and why you\u2019ve decided to back it?<\/strong><\/p>\n#LeatherTruthfully is shining a light on leather and its place in the environmental discussion which is often misrepresented.<\/p>\n
I think we need to trust in and return to nature as much as we can. Leather is an incredible, natural, waterproof, flexible, durable material that should not be wasted and has an important place in any circular economy.<\/p>\n
Ultimately #LeatherTruthfully is a long term campaign that aims to maintain a truthful and global conversation about all aspects of leather manufacture and making.<\/p>\n
What is your personal perspective on leather making and its associated industry?<\/strong><\/p>\nThere are some very interesting and innovative products coming to the market and I will look at anything that makes sense.<\/p>\n
My research into the subject proves to me that leather, farmed in a regenerative way which is then tanned and finished in a responsible way, is often the most sensible solution when a byproduct of the meat industry.<\/p>\n
Leather makes sense to me in a natural, circular economy. It is also a brilliant natural fibre that is waterproof, flexible, durable, and beautiful.<\/p>\n
Most of your own products feature leather, some as a major component, how are you educating your customers about the use of leather?<\/strong><\/p>\nOur Return To Nature collection has been a major project for us \u2013 it has been at least 2 years in the making to find partners and develop processes to create a fully compostable leather. I do believe leather is a fantastic natural material when produced and finished responsibly. Inspired by the fact that \u2018there is no waste in nature\u2019, we set out to make a bag that could never end up in landfill. In nature, if an apple drops from a tree, it breaks down and composts and in turn nourishes the soil to support new plant growth. So, we set out to do the same with a bag.<\/p>\n
After two years of research and development we launched Return to Nature, a collection of bags that biodegrade (audited ISO 20136) and compost (audited ISO 20200) and in turn deliver 20% stronger plant growth. For this project we used pioneering new tanning and finishing methods developed with Nera Tanning and Richard Hoffmans (est. 1899), resulting in a product that is chrome, heavy-metal and aldehyde-free.<\/p>\n
The skins are sourced from Scan-Hide Swedish farms that offer full traceability to the field, and that have some of the highest standards of animal welfare. The hides are tanned with zeology, an innovative new way of tanning that replaces chrome (which hinders biodegradability) with zeolite. It refrains from the use of PU coatings, so common in leather, and is finished instead with Activated Silk Technology.<\/p>\n
This project was in part also inspired by the words of Arizona Muse on the podcast Wardrobe Crisis and each bag sold donates \u00a35 or \u00a310 to Dirt, Arizona\u2019s foundation for the regeneration of the earth.<\/p>\n
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Sustainability awareness in the fashion industry has increased dramatically in the last five years, but there\u2019s obviously further steps needed. How are you challenging or charging awareness of sustainability?<\/strong><\/p>\nWe are committed to creating consciously and put sustainability at the heart of everything we do.<\/p>\n
We are proud to have signed the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, which was created in 2018 as a holistic commitment to climate action for the textile, clothing and fashion industry. Its mission is to drive the fashion industry to net-zero Greenhouse Gas emissions no later than 2030 in line with keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees.<\/p>\n
We work to the mantra \u2018progress not perfection\u2019 and are committed to doing everything that we can to continue to drive for urgent positive change.<\/p>\n
What are your thoughts on vegan leather?<\/strong><\/p>\nI am always curious and open minded about leather innovation. However, it is impossible to make comparisons between vegan leather and natural leather. They are different materials with different composites.<\/p>\n
There are some very interesting and innovative products coming to the market and we will look at anything that makes sense. My research into the subject proves to me that leather, farmed in a regenerative way which is then tanned and finished in a responsible way, is often the most sensible solution when a by product of the meat industry.<\/p>\n
Have you learnt anything from being involved with the #LeatherTruthfully campaign?<\/strong><\/p>\nThere are lots of misconceptions about the leather industry and it is good to be able to shine a light on producers and innovators that are doing great stuff in the space.<\/p>\n
Can we expect anything from the Anya Hindmarch brand in the next 24 months that reflects anything from this campaign?<\/strong><\/p>\nWe always have lots of projects in the pipeline! We will continue to develop our Return To Nature collection and hope to be able to announce lots of new retail partnerships for our Universal Bag.<\/p>\n
What do you hope the long term achievements will be from the campaign?<\/strong><\/p>\nI hope that #LeatherTruthfully will impact consumers, media and influencers in understanding how leather is made and its role in a sustainable economic future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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The Interview: Anya Hindmarch - TheIndustry.fashion<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n