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10 Minutes with... Helen

10 Minutes with.....
Helen
Welcome to the second of a series of ’10 minutes with…’ where you meet members of our team and friends of the Brand sharing a little bit about their life.
This week it’s my pleasure to introduce you to Helen. We met the lovely Helen in the early days of Hope. A friend and neighbour of our product and design duo, Garry and Jaquine, Helen is an independent jewellery designer, lover of the outdoors and mum of three, who soon became a close friend of the brand.
Me in 3 words...
I would describe myself in 3 words as Creative, Positive and Adventurous
Home is...
10 beachy feet, sandy floors and 8 paws!
My Hope story...
I was introduced to Hope by my neighbours – who just happen to be the designers and product management team behind Hope Clothing.
I love Hope because the designs are based on simplicity – something which resonates with me in my own business as a silver jewellery designer and maker.
The fabrics add a fluidity to each design allowing movement and versatility to show off the bits you like best and hide the bits you don’t. I also love that where possible fabrics are sourced from British manufacturers.
My Style Story...
My style has evolved from being a teenager in the ‘80’s – which was very much influenced by the music I happened to be listening to – a nod to Punk with tartan trousers and safety pins, frills and peddal pushers for new romantic nights out and baggy jeans and a floppy hair band for Bananarama college days!
Moving onto ‘Kelly Girl’ temping days in London and the very first collections of ‘Next’ office wear (which I believe Garry was the designer for too – so a little bit of symmetry!) alternated with winter ski seasonnaire life living in Naff Naff, Patagonia and Varnet sunnies. I loved Gap clothing once I became a mum, great jeans and casual wear, affordable and still feeling in touch with fashion trends, blended with a bit of beachy cool on my move to Devon 17 years ago.

Modelling for Hope...

Challenges I find as a grow older are...

I’m happiest when...
I have all the kids home and we are all prepping and adding our own touches to the Sunday Roast extravaganza, a little bit of music and silly dancing in the kitchen to help us on our way.
Favourite quote...
‘If you always do what you’ve always done you will always get what you’ve always got’.
If you want change it has to come from yourself – but its not always so easy to remember this.
My guilty pleasure is...
A ginger nut with my cup of tea in bed every morning.
People may be surprised to know...
I jump in the sea in just my bikini bottoms most mornings!
How I achieve balance in my everyday life...

The most surprising thing I have learnt along the way...
It's ok to keep a little bit of you for yourself.
My ‘pinch me, I must be dreaming’ moment...
One of my pinch me moments has to be kissing Richard Gere back stage at the Free Mandela concert in 1988! It was only a peck, buy hey …!
What inspires me...
My amazing girlfriends are my best inspiration, we have weathered many storms of varying degrees, and are still smiling and able to laugh to the bottom of our socks!
The ruby silk shirt – always a winner for me – great with jeans but also fab on my navy foundation dress for a smarter look. Rea looks great, but this is the piece I really wanted to model!

Helen in the Autumn Winter Collection
I always enjoy reading the Hope Blog, it just gives me a deeper understand and appreciation for this lovely clothing brand. One cant help noticing how happy all the models look in Hope clothing and I dont think its just a coincidence :) It reminds me of how I feel a bit more happier and confident when I wear my own Hope pieces. I liked the sentence "The fabrics add a fluidity to each design allowing movement and versatility to show off the bits you like best and hide the bits you don’t." as that is something we always want from our clothes but often we dont get it. I always feel there is a certain "freedom" in wearing my Hope clothes and I rather like that. Also I liked - "I also love that where possible fabrics are sourced from British manufacturers." - we often dont get to know where it comes from so its good that its staying close to home when possible.