According to DailyMail, British handbag designer Anya Hindmarch has been named Veuve Clicquot’s businesswoman of the year. She designs a line of handbags, which include some beautiful exotic leather python skin bags, such as the one pictured below:
"Hindmarch, who cites Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher as her inspiration, saw off competition from City heavyweight Helena Morrissey, chief executive of Newton Investment Management.
The 43-year-old designer said in an interview that Thatcher's Britain gave her the incentive to set up her own company.
'There was quite a feeding frenzy of start-ups,' she told The Guardian. 'And it's very catching. That's what's exciting now. If you get one, you get three; if you get three, you get nine.'
In fact, the feeling of admiration is mutual. As Hindmarch admits to being a 'big fan' of Thatcher, in turn, the former Primer Minister has a fondness for Hindmarch. Indeed a new exhibition of the Iron Lady's belongings is to include an Anya Hindmarch bag.
'It's rather lovely,' Hindmarch said.
And the accolade certainly proves the growing importance of luxury British brands to the UK economy.
'Hopefully women will sit up and realise it's really exciting starting a business,' Anya enthused.
Anya Hindmarch exotic leather bags can fetch up to £2,895 and also offers a bespoke service where fans can choose their own leathers onto which their initials can be embossed.
Hindmarch counts celebrities including Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss, Angelina Jolie and The Duchess of Cambridge among her fans.
The 43 year old designer became the award’s 40th winner this week when she was presented with the honour by home secretary Theresa May at Claridge’s hotel in London.
Previous winners of the award include Dame Anita Roddick at The Body Shop.
Hindmarch exhibited an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age. During her gap year in Italy she spotted a bag she liked, found a factory and started producing the design."