I had the pleasure of meeting Laura and Lisa from Hug & Hatch at Bubble. I was so happy to find a shoe brand that focused on quality without sacrificing the design of the shoe. And a brand after my own heart, leopard print sandals!!!! I love shoes and once I find a brand I love, there is no going back. Edith will wear Hug & Hatch as long as she can. Lisa and Laura want customers to feel comfortable buying their shoes for their little ones as this can be a daunting task. But you can be assured buying from Hug & Hatch will keep your little ones feet happy and healthy. I had a lovely chit chat with Lisa and Laura and this is what they had to say:
1.
TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELVES.
WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND?
We met (Laura and Lisa)
whilst working at Kickers 10 years ago we clicked instantly as we’ve a similar
approach to designing shoes, ‘We’re not
precious, just passionate about the details!’ Since then we’ve been firm
friends, working together on freelance design projects and sharing our
parenting highs and lows!
Collectively we’ve got
over 30 years of experience working for brands such as Kickers, Clarks,
Debenhams and Boden. So there’s not much we don’t know about shoes. In a
freelance capacity we’ve been helping new brands launch for a while now working
with them on creative direction, brand profile, range building etc. So we’re
well versed in all
aspects of the business.
aspects of the business.
2.
HOW DID THE IDEA FOR HUG
& HATCH COME ABOUT?
As parents we were often
frustrated by the range of what was on offer at an affordable price point. As
designers we wanted the quality but not necessarily all the ‘whistles and bows’
that brands were putting on their shoes. We were fed up with bows/ flowers and
pink for girls and boys shoes in dull colours only. We’d always talked about
doing our own range but I guessed we just lacked the confidence to take the
plunge! Then on one product development trip to Spain we decided to just go for
it and ‘Hug and Hatch’ was born. Shoes to Hug little feet and help them Hatch
into walkers.
3.
HOW DOES HUG & HATCH
DIFFER FROM OTHER KID SHOE BRANDS OUT THERE TODAY?
We want to take away the
fear factor for new parents buying shoes for their children. The website
features a downloadable foot gauge so parents can measure at home. The pre
walkers are close to ‘barefoot’ allowing little ones to feel and find their
feet. Yet there’s room to grow and support at the ankle to help stability. The
first walkers are a slightly wider than average fit, there’s room for the foot
to spread and grow whilst the ankle straps and boot styles provide ankle
support and ease of wear. The Junior styles take children all the way to junior
school with styles becoming more streamlined and toe shapes more slim. All the
ages have a range of styles, which on the whole are unisex with styles offering
interesting colours and prints in quality leathers and suedes. We wanted to
create a brand that customers know they can rely on from pram to playground.
4.
WHAT DO YOU WANT US TO
KNOW ABOUT HUG & HATCH?
We care about little feet
and as Mum’s we know how important it is to have the right protection for them.
We design the styles ourselves and don’t put anything in the range we don’t
love. A fantastic factory in Spain makes the shoes (in quality leathers and
suedes with naturally breathable leather linings and socks). We don’t mass
produce we make small orders of lovely shoes made by shoemakers with a heritage
of shoe making.
5.
WHAT INSPIRES YOUR
COLLECTIONS? DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE CAFÉ, SHOP, MUSEUM, ETC THAT SPARKS
INSPRIATION?
We’re both interior
junkies and love to scour the Internet, magazines and stores for lovely things,
mainly driven by a love for colour and pattern. I’ve (Lisa) got a weakness for
pottery and take great inspiration from all things vintage especially prints and
illustrations (lots of late night eBay purchases!)
I (Laura) love anything
to do with Scandinavian design and colourful vintage patterns and prints. I am
even at the moment having a go at making a crochet granny square blanket from a
Norwegian blog.
6.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE
KIDSWEAR BRANDS? DO YOU HAVE A BRAND YOU FEEL FITS PERFECTLY WITH HUG &
HATCH?
We like clothing brands,
which are different and with a vintage bias and handmade feel. Macarons shop is
lovely and the Spanish knitwear of Babaa. Shoe brands are a bit more difficult
to find hence Hug and Hatch.
7.
WHEN WORKING DO YOU
LISTEN TO MUSIC? IF SO, WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO NOW?
(Lisa) I’m spoilt in
Broadstairs as there’s always a live band playing somewhere on a Sunday and
this week I’ve been listening to a CD of duo called ‘Star Lane’ a lil’ bit
country!
I (Laura) am not
listening to anything specific at the moment unless you count the One Direction
CD my children listen to on and on in the car… But if I am working and
especially designing I love to listen to Spotify and some playlists I follow.
8.
IF YOU COULD COLLOBARATE
WITH ANYONE IN THE WORLD, WHO WOULD THIS BE? WHY?
We love the way Orla
Kiely’s prints translate from homewares to clothing and now shoes and feel that
this kind of concept could work on kids shoes too!
9.
BEST ADVICE SOMEONE HAS
GIVEN YOU?
Enjoy the process!
10.
WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE
TO US?
If you have a great idea,
do it! Go for it and find someone like- minded as it makes it so much more
enjoyable and fun to have someone to chat, discuss and laugh with.
11.
WITH WARMER WEATHER ON THE HORIZON DO YOU HAVE
A FAVOURITE SPRING/SUMMER ACTIVITY?
(Lisa) Walking on the beach with my
little girl
(Laura) Going for walks, picnics and
visiting various places with the family. Also going on summer holiday to France
to meet up with my Dutch Family
12.
WHATS NEXT FOR HUG & HATCH? ANY EXCITING
NEWS OR EVENTS COMING UP YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH US?
We’re at the London
Mother’s Club event this Sunday, looking forward to seeing our sandals arrive in
some fab stockists and are working on our Spring Summer 2015 range!
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