The Women’s Institute takes over the Anya Village

For her latest concept store, Anya Hindmarch is partnering with the Women’s Institute (WI) to bring It Takes A Village to The Village on Pont Street, decking out the facades of Anya’s three stores in crochet, patchwork and knitted yarn in delightfully bright colours, with one offering a selection of beautifully crafted pieces. 

“The WI is the original social network, since 1915,” Anya Hindmarch said. “[It] has been a voice of soft power in the UK, supporting numerous important causes close to our hearts – from tackling single-use plastic to championing British craft.”

This is the first time that The Village has lent its voice to an external organisation and a portion of proceeds will go to fund the aims and objectives of the WI. The partnership is a celebration of the aligned philosophies of the WI and Anya Hindmarch, and features a collection of curated female craftspeople, a selection of beautiful products and a series of dynamic workshops, all celebrating women and craft. 

The WI space itself honours the long and varied history of the Institute with a series of vintage and modern-day protest banners, all handmade by members over the decades of the organisation’s existence.

Inside the WI store, you’ll find Anya’s raffia, crochet and hand-beaded items alongside a rich and varied crafted line-up from the WI, including unique hand-stitched quilts, tufted rugs, patchworked apparel, vintage tablecloths, hand-knitted socks, sewing kits, hand-loomed scarves, upcycled fashion and craft supplies. And it wouldn’t be the WI without a jolly good jar of jam on sale – here, Anya-exclusive jams, of course, in Raspberry, Apricot and Seville Orange marmalade flavours. 

Be sure to pick up a one-of-a-kind protest pouch – the highlight of the project. Each has been hand-stitched with WI slogans and messages by individual makers and WI members, then crafted into beautiful pouches exclusively for It Takes A Village. There is also a range of limited-edition quilted bags made from vintage and new patchwork pieces, then trimmed with Anya’s striped ribbon. Each bag is numbered, dated and stitched with an Anya and WI co-branded label.

On Saturday, 18 March, Sarah Corbett, founder of the global Craftivist Collective, will host two exclusive craftivism (craft + activism) workshops at It Takes A Village, where you can stitch one of Sarah’s ‘Stitchable Changemakers’, a take-home sewing project focusing on historic, powerful changemakers. No craft skills needed whatsoever. (£35 per ticket).

It Takes A Village is open until 26 March, 2023. For more information and to book, please visit anyahindmarch.com. 

The Village by Anya Hindmarch, 11 Pont Street, SW1X 9EH