Interview with Haute Living

Here's an interview with me that US magazine Haute Living published earlier this year:

Amy Hall originally trained as a photographer before realising knitwear design was her true passion and undertaking a summer course at Central Saint Martins. In 2010, the London based Hall established her own label and launched with a collection of women’s ready-to-wear knits, all hand-made from her Dalston based studio. Hall’s popularity spread like morning sunlight with fashion bible, Vogue, hailing Hall’s knits “as the only clothes to wrap up in this winter.” Haute Living caught up with the woman who has helped make wool, cool:

Why do you think that Londoners love Amy Hall? Over the last few years customers have become more concerned with provenance and spend their money more shrewdly. Quality and longevity are also important factors so, because our pieces are handmade in London, using carefully sourced natural fibres that are predominantly British, our customers know they’re making a sound investment. Our designs have a strong silhouette but are classic so won’t date and, if well cared for, should last a lifetime.

Can you tell when something is going to sell well? We have a signature cocoon cardigan shape, that despite being slightly re-worked each season, never fails to do well. Women find them incredibly easy to wear and they’re flattering and warm. They’re great trans-seasonal pieces too. One customer told me the other day that she feels like she’s being enveloped in a hug when she’s wearing hers!

What do you love most from your Spring-Summer 2014 collection? The one piece that seems to get the most ‘oohs’ and ‘aaahs’ at the moment is the Alum mohair sweater. I’ve actually already worn mine to death as it looks great with everything. It is incredibly soft and tactile and invites people to touch it. The Brighstone cardigan is also doing well.

What do you like about Londoners’ style? Londoners aren’t afraid to be completely bonkers and generally don’t care what anybody thinks of them. They dress for themselves and, for the most part, have an excellent sense of style. 

How much of your wardrobe is from Amy Hall? I have to admit it’s beginning to take over! We’re now on our eighth season so the number of pieces that have found their way into my wardrobe is increasing all the time. My husband and I have a one bedroom flat and we share a single wardrobe, but some of my bulkier knits are definitely encroaching on his space. I’m lucky he’s so tolerant….

Were you always so sure about your sense of style? I was in the sense that as a teenager I wore some pretty ridiculous things that nobody else in my year at school would be seen dead in, but I’m not sure you would have called that style! But over the last few years I’ve refined my wardrobe (at least non-knitwear wise) and know what suits me. But I don’t think you could pigeonhole my style, either. It changes according to my mood.

You have lots of A list fans… Yes. Broadcaster Anita Rani (BBC’s India/China/Russia on Four Wheels, Channel 4’s Four Rooms) wore pieces from my AW13 collection throughout her recent Russia on Four Wheels documentary. Journalist Polly Vernon is also a recent convert, as well as US TV presenter Alicia Quarles and Swedish singing sensation, Neneh Cherry.

How do you like to relax? With a big pile of glossy magazines, a good book and a glass of red wine.

The 'Alum' and its namesake

We have been sharing with you some of the inspiration behind the S/S 2014 collection and thought we'd end with this lovely vintage postcard below, which depicts Alum Bay on the Isle of Wight. 

As one of the more dramatic coastal locations on the island, Alum Bay is one of the island's main tourist attractions. One of the most popular things to do there is fill tiny novelty glass jars with the various coloured sands which come from the cliffs, which (as far as we know) are unique to the area. Another is the terrifying cable car which takes you down the steep cliff to the beach below.

The luxurious 'Alum' mohair sweater takes its name from this stunning island location. Alum has been made using a blend of super-soft mohair and silk, which is perfectly suited to our lengthy Springs and Autumns and has already become a bit of a best-seller so far this season.

The 'Appley' and its namesake

Our beautiful 'Appley' cropped sweater from the SS14 collection was named after Appley Beach on the Isle of Wight, a short walk from the Hall family home. It's a beautiful, long and sandy beach which connects Ryde with Seaview. It has it's own little tower which, the last time I looked, was occupied by a tiny gift shop and a large shaggy dog with dreadlocks. I don't actually have any idea why the tower was built, or when. If anyone knows, please let us know.

The sweater itself is knitted in our British blend of silk and wool that we've used throughout the collection. It has a foil coated yarn running through the cuffs on the sleeves, giving them a distinctive, structured 'bell' shape.

The 'Steephill' and its namesake

Our S/S 2014 collection would not have been complete without a bikini of some description - we love a bit of knitted swimwear here in the studio and the sheer element of some of our pieces demands that you layer something underneath to protect your modesty... as demonstrated in the image below.

This season we kept it very simple, with a plain bandeau and matching knickers, which we named after one of the prettiest and hidden spots on the Isle of Wight: Steephill Cove. It's not accessible by road, but down some very steep steps which you access via a tiny side road in Ventnor. During the summer there are a couple of dinky cafes serving the most delicious fresh crab, caught right there on the doorstep. 

The 'Whitecliff' and its name sake

Whitecliff Bay is at the easternmost point on the Isle of Wight. The beach there is hugely popular in the summer months and is accessible only by two steep tracks. All the best places on the island are trickier to get to!

Random historical fact: Whitecliff Bay was one of the landing points for the French invasion of the island in 1545. There you are - don't say we don't teach you anything.

Now for the knit: our Whitecliff dress is an easy summertime staple, a relaxed, simple vest dress in a British blend of silk and wool to throw on on a cool day. 

The 'Freshwater' and its namesake

Our asymmetric dress 'Freshwater' is named after one of the more dramatic locations on the Isle of Wight: Freshwater Bay.

Every year in May a charity event called 'Walk the Wight' takes place, where thousands of people walk from the furthest point on the east of the island to the furthest on the west: Bembridge to Alum Bay. My favourite part is when you join the Tennyson trail, which runs along the 'spine' of the island, dropping down into beautiful Freshwater Bay and then leading steeply up again, onto Tennyson Down. The cliffs are stunning and on a clear day, before you come down into Freshwater, you can look from north to south and actually see the distinctive shape of the island either side of you.

Our lightweight two-tone 'Freshwater' dress is knitted using a British silk and wool blend, with the same structured 'bell' sleeve as the Appley sweater. 

La Muse

I've been in Switzerland over the last few days and finally had the opportunity to visit our newest stockist, La Muse in Geneva. It's a lovely store on a picturesque street in the old town. The owner, Viola (pictured below), showed me some of the beautiful pieces she stocks by other British brands such as Lara Bohinc and Nicholas Kirkwood as well as some highly covetable dresses in technical fabrics by new Swiss brand Huber Egloff.

We chatted over coffee about Viola's philosophy for her boutique and her buying strategy - she doesn't follow trends or allow herself to be distracted by bestselling pieces, but instead buys from the heart and goes for what she really loves. She understands her customer and knows that they expect exceptional quality from independent brands with a strong story behind them.

I took the opportunity to deliver Viola's SS14 order in person (including the Brighstone cardigan & Springvale t-shirt) and also gave her an exclusive preview of the new AW14 collection.

The 'Osborne' and its namesake

The 'hero' piece of our SS14 collection is the 'Osborne' beaded jacket. Inspired in part by a Japanese kimono, its almost regal status within the collection was what inspired us to name it after the tiny private beach at Osborne, which was once royal residence to Queen Victoria.

The jacket itself is a heavy piece constructed using a British blend of silk and wool, with a foil coated yarn running through the panels, which gives it a structural quality. The opening edge has been adorned with rows of silver plated beads which have been hand-crocheted on, taking several hours.

On a more personal note, Osborne House has a great deal of personal significance: when my family & I moved to the Isle of Wight in 1996, we started attending their open air concerts and went every year until they stopped them two summers ago. It became such a family tradition that we miss our annual picnic on their vast lawn! More importantly, I love it there so much that my fiancé and I decided it was the perfect spot for our wedding reception in just over two weeks' time.

Summer knitwear, in miniature

We haven't shown at London Fashion Week this season in order to focus our energy on other projects (to be revealed...). Instead, a few lucky journalists across London will have received a miniature 'Springvale' mohair t-shirt in the mail over the last few days. Tatler's 'Front Row Fox' particularly liked his (you can see him appreciating it in the bottom image).

Here it is, with the human-sized version (worn with 'Luccombe' skirt):

Our latest collection, Spring/Summer 2014

London Fashion Week is nearly over for another season and autumn is very obviously here, but we've just unveiled our new collection for Spring/Summer 2014 and we're very excited to be sharing it with you. To view the full lookbook, click here.

This season Amy was heavily influenced by the dramatic British coastline and has named each piece after bays and beaches on the Isle of Wight where she grew up. The palette reflects the bleak yet beautiful colours of the coast in the early Spring months: grey, heather and sand with a touch of blue. The main yarn used this season is a British blend of wool and silk which has a rustic feel, perfect for our slightly schizophrenic seasons, particularly during the transitional Spring months.

Spring/Summer 2014 shoot

August is coming to an end but it's been a busy month for us all at Amy Hall. On 1st August our A/W 2013 collection went on sale in Wolf & Badger on Dover Street, Mayfair.

Ten days later we hosted a sample sale in Kentish Town with a selection of other London based designers, then a few days later shot our new Spring/Summer 2014 collection, which was incredibly exciting. I've included a sneaky behind-the-scenes shot below. We'll be unveiling the collection in the next few weeks, so keep an eye out.

Spring/Summer 2014 inspiration

I can't believe I'm already starting work on Spring/Summer 2014 when, as I write, there appears to be little sign that Spring 2013 is even remotely on it's way. However, I always love this stage in the design process, when the last collection is done & dusted and new ideas begin to flow.

Having just returned from a much-needed break in South East Asia, I feel ready to dive back into my work. Here are some images of just a couple of the things I saw that helped to kick-start my creative brain....