When designer Emma Hill left Mulberry a couple years ago amid changes made by since-ousted CEO Bruno Guillon, the brand’s fans were not happy; Hill had developed quite a following and had introduced some of Mulberry’s most popular bags, and many of them credited her for the brand’s growing good name. Mulberry is still trying to right the ship after her departure, but now, she’s moved on to a just-launched brand of her own: Hill & Friends.
The brand debuted at London Fashion Week over the weekend, but a selection of the bags from the “Happy” line are available immediately as Net-a-Porter exclusives. All the bags have a winking-face turnlock, which brings a bit of whimsy to the otherwise-traditional shapes and leathers.
Check out the bags below and let us know what you think–are you excited Emma Hill is back in the handbag business?
Hill & Friends Happy Animal Print Calf Hair Satchel
$2,325 via Net-a-Porter
Hill & Friends Happy Chain Shoulder Bag
$1,025 via Net-a-Porter
Hill & Friends Happy Chain Shoulder Bag
$900 via Net-a-Porter
Hill & Friends Happy Mini Calf Hair Shoulder Bag
$1,000 via Net-a-Porter
Hill & Friends Happy Mini Shoulder Bag
$825 via Net-a-Porter
Hill & Friends Happy Satchel
$1,425 via Net-a-Porter
Hill & Friends Happy Satchel
$1,300 via Net-a-Porter
Hill & Friends Happy Satchel
$1,300 via Net-a-Porter
loving the bags!
Something about these bags is a little…clunky. They come across to me more as contemporary bags than premium bags.
It seems that she took the colour “Mulberry Pink” with her when she left! (see slide #2) I had the devil of a time finding a bag in that iconic shade last year, and could NOT understand why Mulberry would discontinue a colour so closely identified with their brand. I wonder if they and Emma Hill did a behind-the-scenes deal?
As for the bags themselves, the satchels look identical in shape to the Mulberry Willow; nothing new there. However, I quite like the rounded lines of her shoulder bags… they almost look as though they want to be hugged!
They don’t look any different than Mulberry. She sure is commanding quite the price tag for an unknown designer with pretty mediocre bags. No one has learned from Reed Krakoff?
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Anyone else getting a hybrid Ralph Lauren Ricky/Mulberry vibe?
looks like RL Ricky bag gone to minimalism era and returned. not so great. . .
Definitely! Nice, but the design we’ve seen before. That price point is beyond ridiculous.
I swear I thought the exact same thing – Mulberry x RL …cute but not anything really new. I’d like to feel the leather and see what kind of flexibility and weight it has.
Good luck at that price point with a brand name called ‘Hill & Friends’. I don’t think so. “OMG….where’d you get that bag???? It’s from Hill & Friends.”
Like…..no.
Agreed, the name is terrible. “Hill & Friends” sounds like a HSN or QVC exclusive brand. No offense to Dooney and Bourke or I.T. Cosmetics…. though, never are exclusive to those companies.
Yes! It sounds like Sesame Street!
Agreed
“Its my Barney and Friends bag, oops, sorry! I meant HILL and Friends”
If these were at kate spade price points they might get away with it but at $2000 we have a choice. There is no caché on any level here.
OMG, you stole my thought! I was thinking Kate Spade too.
I agree with everyone else, the price point seems way too high
Very Mulberry-esque. I don’t see anything new here. The pricing strategy is way out of line. The circular metal discs are too obtrusive. Clunky appearance. The brand name sounds like a daytime TV shoes from the 90’s.
Fill in the ends oh you said Hill and Friends. Ummm no. I have enough trouble buying Mulberry. As much as I love their bags they are copied to death. I think if I had a H & F they would think my bag was a fake Mulberry from China. No thanks. That name is dreadful.
Rather unimpressed and the name doesn’t say high end to me at all. Also, they’re overpriced.
That lock is awfull! Did anyone notice it!? I know the smiley is supposed to be fun and quirky. But if you company name is ‘Hill and Friends’ that’s enough quirkiness for me.
I am a bit disappointed. Emma had an existing market with all the Mulberry fans that loved her designs but were let down by the price increases and the fact that Mully lost Hill. To come up with designs that are nowhere near the astonishing creations she made for Mulberry AND to go for a price point that’s even more outrageous than Mully these days is just plain weird. She could have started her emancipation with a bang, had she remembered her loyal followers!
I don’t understand up and coming brands that start out with exorbitant prices! They will end up 75% off at the end of the season so what’s the point?
Looks too much like Ralph Lauren Ricki
Satchel looks like the Ralph Lauren Ricky, and the shoulder bag looks like the Marc Jacobs Trouble.
Try again.
These could be KORS by Michael Kors to be honest. They remind me of what she did for Mulberry – except… not sleek. :/