MATCHESFASHION is excited to unveil Anya Handmarch’s exclusive collection Return To Nature – a luxury bag capsule that biodegrades naturally.
Challenged by the idea of a zero-waste future, and looking to nature for inspiration, the Return To Nature collection is the result of two years of research and innovation. It has involved seeking out tanneries who can offer fully traceable skins, tracking down craftspeople who have developed pioneering tanning and finishing methods, and finding ways to make straps adjustable and bags secure without using any hardware.
The result is a collection of luxurious bags that have been created with the intention of being biodegradable at the end of their lives, not just to avoid further landfill but also to mimic nature’s circularity and start a conversation about fashion’s role in the climate crisis.
The collection is made up of three styles: a tote in two sizes, a bucket bag and a cross-body bag. All are available in either natural tan or dark chocolate and features the brand’s signature organisational elements inside. With a pared-down aesthetic, the bags are designed to develop a beautiful patina over time.
Founder & Designer, Anya Hindmarch on the inspiration behind her collection Return To Nature: “A few years ago I heard Arizona Muse taking about the idea of a leather bag that could be tanned in a way that allowed it to biodegrade and return to the earth at the end of its life. There is no waste in nature, and this and Arizona’s words inspired me to embark on a lengthy project to see if I could make a beautiful bag from responsibly sourced leather, without using any hardware and tanned in a way that meant that it could biodegrade and ultimately return to nature. This is what I set out to do.”
