Anya Hindmarch

Biography

Dame Anya Hindmarch is a designer and entrepreneur. Her luxury accessories brand and innovative approach to retail, personalisation and sustainability have made her a global name. Since founding her business over three decades ago, she has built a brand synonymous with craftsmanship, playful creativity and unique customer engagement. Her groundbreaking initiatives such as I'm NOT A Plastic Bag and I Am A Plastic Bag (made from recycled bottles) have both reframed the idea of luxury goods and driven conversations around sustainability in fashion and beyond, while her Village concept redefines the retail experience. Anya has also served on a number of arts boards and is currently a Trustee of Tate and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

Drawing on her experience growing and leading a global business, Anya reflects on her lessons in entrepreneurship, leadership and brand-building in a market that is both rapidly-evolving and culturally influential. She looks at the role of sustainability in business, offering a realistic and practical perspective on corporate responsibility under her mantra, "progress, not perfection." It’s an area that coincides with her exploration of the intersection of creativity and commerce, the importance of understanding customer behaviour and attitudes, and her own take on building an enduring brand through playful innovation.

As well as leading the successful creative and commercial aspects of her own companies, Anya is a respected business leader and advocate for British design and the arts and served as an advisor to the Board of Trade. She is also the author of the bestseller If In Doubt, Wash Your Hair, in which she shares her insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, and balancing work and life. A champion of women in business, she addresses the challenges and opportunities for female entrepreneurs and leaders, as well as broader issues around juggling family with professional ambition. With authenticity and originality, Anya shares her experiences of navigating challenges, making bold decisions, and building a brand that resonates with global consumers, adapts to trends, and leads by example.