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In the Studio with Katie Hillier

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Bunnies, bunnies, and more bunnies. Just like her new jewelry line, Hillier, accessories designer and consultant Katie Hillier's London studio is filled with bunnies. When Katie and I met earlier this year, on one of her many trips to New York, she admitted that she did have more than a few. And when she also mentioned that she had an archive of over 2,000 handbags—all filed away and labeled in Muji drawers—I was ready to book a flight back to London.

Instead, we dispatched a friend to photograph Katie's space and I sent her a quick Q&A as she flew back to NYC this month. See Katie's collections of stuffed animals, bags, and buns in the photos below, and keep scrolling for a video tour of the amazing handbag archive!

Shop all Hillier here.


Alice Newell-Hanson: I'm guessing you're somewhere over the Atlantic right now! What do you miss most about England when you're in New York?

Katie Hillier: I miss the countryside. I have a cottage where I sneak away on the weekends with my boyfriend Patrick. I love London and being in the city but I need the countryside to relax and switch off.

ANH: What do you miss most about New York when you're in London?
KH: The people! New Yorkers are so funny and friendly. And I miss the fast pace of New York city life—everything seems possible, with all the positive energy.

ANH: What are you working on during this trip?
KH: I'm here working with the gang at Marc by Marc Jacobs on the resort and spring accessories line!

ANH: I've heard that your paperclip animals were inspired by a trip to Japan—how did the idea evolve?
KH: Japan is the most amazing source of inspiration to me. They have a particular fondness for rabbits there, like I do. During a trip to Kyoto, to a very traditional ceramics store, I was told all these stories about rabbits, then I took a trip to my favorite stationary store and it kind of all came together from there. I wanted to make precious jewelry that would make you take a second look. I love the idea of precious things looking like found objects.

ANH: And you've hinted that there might be spiders in the next collection.
KH: Yes! We always look at fairy tales and children's stories for inspiration, which is why animals are always a big part of what we do. Nancy, who works with me, remembered a story about Anansi the spider. He's an important character in West African and Caribbean folklore—the original illustrations are so amazing—and so that's where we started. I had also discussed it with Charlotte Dellal who had said, "I want a spider necklace!" So we had our theme!

ANH: We love your studio! Can you tell us about the building? Apparently the cafeteria is amazing...
KH: The Rochelle School was originally a Victorian school which was split boys downstairs, girls upstairs. We've been on both floors and we now live on the boys' floor. I was introduced to the School by Luella Bartley, and Giles Deacon has always been based there. It's an amazing place, like a secret community in the heart of the East End! The canteen was created by Margot Henderson and Melanie Arnold and it keeps us healthy and happy throughout the year, with the most amazing food you can find anywhere in London.

ANH: Now can we talk about your collections? Do you know how many bunnies you own?
KH: I would say just over 500.
ANH: What's the weirdest piece?
KH: They're all a bit weird but my most rare one is a Raf Simons bunny purse made of rabbit fur.

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