Eastpak x House of Hackney capsule collection

For all backpacks and prints lovers, there’s a new object of desire to write down on the agenda: it’s the capsule collection created by British lifestyle brand House of Hackney along with Eastpak, the American brand become famous all over the world for its practical, resistant and colourful backpacks.

On the occasion of the launch of the collection in Milan, we had a chat with Frieda Gormley, company director of HoH, to find out what lies behind one of the most interesting partnership of the season:

Where did the inspiration for this collection come from?

The inspiration for the prints of this collection come from a vintage archive. We used five prints: Mey Meh, which is the carpet print which comes from a 13^th century Persian carpet, there is Inferno, which is a mix of leaves which comes from a Victorian print, Palmeral, which has been inspired by the atmosphere of Palm Springs in the 30s, Hackney Empire, with all the animals having celebrations which shows the different colourful characters that live in Hackney - which is where we are - and Midnight Garden, which is inspired by the Dutch masters and shows beautiful but dark floral, well painted.

For the collection you chose to use British velvet. How important is the Made in Uk for the fashion industry nowadays?

Since House of Hackney is based in England, it was important for us. Most of the things for the interiors that we do, like the furniture or the lightning, are traditionally English. Made in England means really good quality, and means the product will last for a very long time and also that it will support British manufacturing. For us it’s important both beauty and substance.

You restyled an iconic item like the Eastpak backpack with amazing prints. What else would you like to re-style in your career?

Myself and my husband Javvy, who is the founder of House of Hackney, grew up with the Eastpak backpack so for us it was a dream collaboration. It’s hard to know really, but I would say… a car!

The collection will be launched on luisaviaroma.com, which is one of the most important online retailers nowadays. Are you the online shopping kind or you still like to go buy in store?

I really enjoy the retail experience. Our store in London is one of the most important after Selfridges, it’s like a magical experience when you get in. So I am definitely the in store shopping kind.