Anya Hindmarch's London Fashion Week presentations are legendary for their OTT fabulosity - but this season we think she might just have excelled herself. Described as a catwalk for accessories, Hindmarch created a fantastical factory with the help of Dior couture set designer Michael Howells.
Entitled "All I Ever Wanted", the surreal set up was decorated with bucket loads of Quality Streets - and powered by the designer peddling her bike.
Photo: Anya Hindmarch
So what's the Autumn/Winter 2012/13 collection all about then?
It's inspired by the feeling that you have as a child at Christmas peering through a toy shop window. Also Quality Street and their colours; the leathers are inspired by their foil wrappers.
How would you describe the Anya Hindmarch woman?
She is every woman who loves beautiful craftsmanship and interesting pieces. And she is not afraid to be herself.
How have you pushed the Hindmarch design aesthetic this season?
Through designing bags that are like toys – that light up with LED lights, that wind up to play music, that have built in snow globes. Quite a feat of engineering! We've developed leathers that resemble the foil texture of a sweet wrapper. And all these pieces are packaged like toys in boxes, after all bags are rather like toys for women.
What are your favourite pieces?
Tiny Tim Dancer - my favourite party bag, big (or small) enough for all the essentials and dotted with LED lights.
The presentation today is fantastically surreal; what was the thinking behind it?
I wanted to recreate the Christmas toy machine that my children have had since they were tiny and the reactions they have as presents go onto a conveyor belt and come out wrapped. I wanted to create a toy factory that would come to life.
What sets London Fashion Week apart from other fashion weeks?Why do you chose to show your creations in London?
It's sheer creativity – especially this season. There is nothing two–dimensional about it.