7. Mimi Berry
“Making a handbag is a bit like sculpture with a bit of product design thrown in”
“Making a handbag is a bit like sculpture with a bit of product design thrown in. I guess I have always been interested in craft processes, not just fashion. There are more possibilities for honing and developing an idea over the years [with craft] and it is more open to interpretation. It has real provenance and integrity”.
Business owner and director, Mimi Berry studied fashion at Central St. Martins. By the time she left, she found her focus had shifted away from seasonal fashion and towards the craft of the object - the shape, feel and use of the item was more important to her. Coming from a clothing background initially, Mimi was completely self-taught when she started working with leather. However, she had myriad fantastic people doing their work experience placements with her, as well as employees from LCF and beyond who have imparted their knowledge of leather working.
Growing up, Mimi was given a lot of creative freedom and was endlessly encouraged to dress up, decorate or make whatever she could with anything she could find, which she duly did. She grew up in Somerset and still loves it there: “I believe it’s made me appreciate why living near open spaces like Hackney Marshes is so important” she says.
While designing, Mimi is mainly preoccupied with the practicalities of how an idea for a shape will work, or a fastener or strap: “how can I make this idea come to life? Is this shape good to hold or to handle? How does it feel in your hands, or on your shoulder? What can you fit into it….”
Before settling in Hackney, Mimi tells me she zigzagged all over London during college, eventually moving to Arnold Circus in Shoreditch, where she lived for eight years. After that she moved to London Fields and finally to Clapton, where she now lives with her husband and son. “I love London, I love Hackney and I love being near the Marshes. Never have any of us appreciated it as much as now - it provides so much. Inspiration, support and wellbeing. I have so many good friends here, from all walks of life, all backgrounds and countries”
When someone buys one her pieces, Mimi says she feel real appreciation and joy: “it cements the point of what I do and encourages me to keep working”
Most of Mimi’s designs start with a rough drawing, which she will then make into a basic toile (an early version of a garment or accessory) or canvas sample bag. She will then re-make it in leather and keep unpicking, sewing, unpicking and re-cutting it until the shape is just right. All new designs are “wear tested” for a few weeks or even months.
“We don't follow trends or mimic competitors, as some designers do. All our designs are carefully worked through and some details and fittings… have been incorporated into our collection for over ten years”
Finally, Mimi tells me the women she’s most inspired by: her friend, Maite from Mutai Ceramics: “her ceramics are so wonderful, you just want to hold them”. Also her old friends Rosie and Harriet from Tatty Devine – “I still go to them for advice and a laugh as they are both truly amazing women. Trailblazers”.
Find Mimi Berry on Instagram, or better still, visit her small but perfectly formed store on Lower Clapton Road in the heart of Clapton. It is lovely in there and very tempting indeed…