In The Hot Seat with India Hobson
01. 11. 2021India Hobson is a contemporary photographer based in the UK, her creative work mainly focuses on editorial, and lifestyle photography. Throughout the years, India has worked her way up in the fashion industry, working for brands such as Burberry and well-known publication T Magazine. We previously collaborated with India on our AW21 Collection, where she created still life photography of our new ranges, to check these out head over to our Instagram here.
We caught up with India to chat about her past and present fashion choices, and style…
How would you describe your personal style?
As my job is quite physical and involves working in a whole range of different environments, I tend to put function and practicality first, but I also believe that confidence is key and I like to feel good, like I’ve made an effort to get dressed! My wardrobe is modular so I can get the most out of every garment. It’s an eclectic mix; (old) fast fashion purchases that are still very much loved and going strong, pieces from independent makers or smaller brands that champion their workforce and do what they can to exist as sustainably as they can, and charity shop finds that I could never replace. The clothes I have all have stories and I value them all. Style-wise, I like oversizing, being playful with tailoring and menswear too, favouring neutral tones and interesting textures or details.
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Tell us about the oldest item in your wardrobe?
I have a few charity shop buys that have been with me for about 15 years now. One is a grey 100% alpaca wool knit that comes out when the temperature drops and fits like a dream and the other a beige cotton men’s jumper. Both are staples in my wardrobe and will hopefully serve me for a long time to come.
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What was the first item of clothing you ever bought for yourself?
A pair of black Dr Martens shoes, I have a similar pair now, only not so shiny!
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What's the most expensive thing you've ever bought, clothing-wise?
A Babaa jumper, I wear it all the time because I don’t believe in ‘saving for best’ - every day is best!
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Who are your style heroes? (Past and present)
When I’m deciding what to wear, I like to look at look-books of the brands that I admire; Studio Nicholson, Lemaire and Margaret Howell for example. It’s a good exercise to ‘shop’ in my own clothing and recreate looks (or at least close nods to) that I like and is a useful reminder that I already have plenty. I love the androgyny, focus on function and subtle elegance of all three brands.
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What fragrance do you wear?
A rotation of Le Labo Noir and anything made by Maya Njie - her discovery sets are a real treat.
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This season you'll be wearing?...
Everything that I wore in the summer, but with added layers! I don’t change my style to fit the seasons, just adapt to the weather with things that I already have.
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Yogi was born in the 90s, what were you doing, what were you wearing and what were you listening to back in the day?
I’m an eighties child so I would have been up early figure skating before school, taking spelling tests way too seriously (I was one of those kids) and listening to the Spice Girls.
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How do you style your Yogi shoes?
My Yogi shoes are timeless designs and go with everything I wear and though classic they both have subtle details that make them feel special.
My Reefer’s are great to make tailored trousers a bit more casual and not so ‘dressed up’ and work well in the other direction too as a way of smartening something that would otherwise feel too casual for me. I have a lot of functional workwear-inspired pieces that need that ‘white trainer lift’ to avoid making me feel frumpy!
My Hitch boots are great for off-road exploration and now I love them with a wide leg trouser and an oversize jumper. I’m looking forward to styling them with more and more layers as we head into the colder months - I like to wear dresses with boots (especially in the winter) playing with balance and shape.
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What do your Yogi shoes say about you?
That I value everything that goes into making an object, the design, the choice of materials, the craftsmanship. I appreciate the skill and consideration that contributed to the making of them and hope to do justice to those that did by taking care of them and wearing them for years to come.
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What does #GoFeetFirst mean to you?
I always start with footwear because it’s such a fundamental part of what I wear; if my feet are happy then the rest of me has a better chance of being happy too. Regular work outdoors means that I rely heavily on my shoes to keep me strong, balanced, and safe, as well as warm and dry! If I’m in the studio then I need something that is light, allows me to be nimble and flexible and that will stand the test of time on long days where I’m stood up for hour after hour.
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How do you #GoFeetFirst day-to-day?
Our feet are the point of contact between us, and the earth and I think it’s important to consider that connection. It might sound a little pretentious but it’s comforting to know that we are never really separated from it (just in the same way that the sky is also all around us and doesn’t have a start or end point).
To keep up to date with our upcoming collaborations and new products by following is on socials here
Massive thank you to India for taking time out to chat with us!
