Some of my regular readers will remember my feature on festival, wedding queen and Balearic accessory dream designer Laura Reynolds with her label Hathor last year, featuring her incredible and unique sunglasses and hats.
I know the likelihood of social gatherings, let alone festivals will be doubtful this year but we can always plan for summer 2021 and the sun will always shine. Laura is too talented not to feature in the blog this summer, even if we are engulfed by a pandemic. So, I caught up with Laura to discuss her current design status and Hathor collection update.
Laura:
Like everyone, I had a great many plans for this year which have been ground to a halt due to the pandemic. And like everyone, I have been trying to find ways to navigate our new ‘normal’ in isolation.
Handmaking Hathor’s ‘Hedonistic Headgear for the Ravers and the Brides’ has been my normal for a decade. Creating isn’t just therapeutic, it’s empowering; and of course – the most important part – it’s fun!
As a hedonist myself, fun is pretty essential to my well-being; so, it made sense to continue with Hathor in these uncertain times and keep the fun in my days where possible.
I thought long and hard about whether to just keep making and leave my latest collection sat on a shelf collecting dust for the foreseeable. I often share behind the scenes snippets on my @hathor.co Insta story and I’d had quite a lot of interest in this first pair of sunglasses from my new collection. I just suddenly thought, why not!
If my creations brighten my days at home, then maybe they could brighten up somebody else’s? Of course, it’s very frustrating and a tad embarrassing that (as a result of having to cancel my Ibiza shoot) instead of my sunglasses adorning a beautiful Balearic goddess of a model with an Es Vedra backdrop and that famous sunset… they’re on me in my back garden in Norfolk! I’m currently attempting to get product shots in a lightbox with my mobile! This really wasn’t the launch I’d planned: with jaw dropping images and professional promotional videos, a new website, re branding and amazing packaging… but do you know what? This is where I’m at, so I thought I’d get over myself and get real. The time is now!
Surely these are the lessons we are all learning right now? To make do, to make the best of what we have, and to find enjoyment where we can!
I am loving the amazing ways we are all connecting online to keep each other’s spirits up and to fund raise for those in need. On Saturday Fat Girl Slim played the grand finale of her DJ debut wearing the hat I made for her Dad Fatboy Slim! It made my Easter! 10-year-old Nelly Cook dropped the megachoon Love is in the Air to close her set for Camp Bestival’s Stay At Home Easter Sleepover, to raise funds for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust and the Trussell Trust. It’s still possible to donate via campbestival.net/sleepover
Alongside creating, I’m absolutely loving connecting online with @hathor.co followers – now more than ever(!) so I thought why stop doing what I love because the branding isn’t perfect and my website isn’t live?! Perhaps most of my creations will sit on the shelf until the Ibiza/festival and wedding season is back in full swing… but I’m still putting my work out there because it brings me joy in lockdown.
On Saturday I wore my Luna Third Eye Shades in the garden and danced in the midday sunshine to sundown to the various awesome DJ live streams (including your husband Judge Jules!) with a G & T in hand. It was exactly like Blue Marlin but on the back of an estate in Gorleston-on-sea! 🙂
‘From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads!’
The Rock N Roll Bride featured vendor’s latest Luna Third Eye Shades include a detailed gold crescent moon embellished with white gems and removable gold chains. Currently priced at just £35, including free UK shipping. Available to purchase via her instagram: @hathor.co and Facebook Page: Facebook.com/hathor.co – where Laura will be launching the rest of her collection over the coming weeks to lighten up lockdown.
