“I have always had a passion for art, design and beautiful genuine craftsmanship” says Hanna Ransjö, founder and creative director of Dubai-based leather handbag label, Halm. The designer adds that this passion is something that has passed down to her by her grandparents; both Swedish academics and ardent craft artisans. "Perhaps not a very common combination, but it taught me balance,” says Hanna.
Officially founded in October 2017, Halm — which has a design studio in Dubai Design District and an atelier in Jumeirah — was a concept that had been brewing for a long time, according to Hanna. "I wanted to create understated luxury with limited-edition pieces focused on timeless quality and functionality," says the Swedish designer.
Despite its array of beautifully classic designs, often spotted on the arm of regional influencers and even Queen Rania of Jordan, Halm is facing an uncertain future with the global pandemic threatening the UAE’s homegrown fashion labels. Here, Hanna Ransjö tells MOJEH how the crisis has affected her personally, how the industry can use lockdown as a learning curve and why luxury fashion should reinvent itself to survive.
So many exciting ideas and projects, just to mention a couple: joining Rolls Royce in the UK with their ‘Strive for Perfection’ event that will now take place in October, a gorgeous collaboration with Kristina Fidelskaya — an exclusive made to order collection that was showcased at her amazing AW20 Paris Fashion Week runway show and launching our 1.3 collection.
Plans for 2020 are still very much in the works and feels even more current now to focus on those ideas, it goes beyond bags… but I can let you know that we are planning a new collection that is even more gender neutral, as we have been receiving many requests from our male customers and it feels timeless too.
Beside the obvious scenario that has affected everyone, it has separated us both locally as a company, but also internationally but we have a great team whom have tried their very best to keep us all together and continuing to work during these difficult circumstances especially since I have been stuck in Switzerland since February when I had a serious skiing accident (the day before the Paris Fashion Week ) and couldn’t travel due to the injury. This was compounded when I discovered my doctor had contracted Covid-19 and I had to ‘isolate’ for weeks on top of that. Then flights stopped completely. I have been trapped, for want of a better word, in a chalet on the top of a mountain in a completely ghost like ski resort which is an eerie experience, especially when you cannot use your right arm and shoulder. I am waiting to see whether I need to operate.
But all this it has truly given me a chance to pause and reboot l – clearly that has affected the business in the sense that we couldn’t continue as usual – an abrupt halt in what we normally take for granted. An incredible eyeopener, and as cliché as it may sound, for that I am grateful.
Focus even more on what really matters, work from the heart and your gut feeling and don’t change the ethos that is the very essence of Halm: quality over quantity, honesty and let the passion shine through in the craftsmanship and sustainable choices. We want to take a closer look at how we do things in the company – what can we change and do differently more efficient so we have more time to be creative, inspired and balanced. It will take some soul searching and self analysis and might be a surprise but necessary for us all I believe.
Dubai Design & Fashion Council and Arab Fashion Council have made continuous efforts in assisting the industry with webinars, information and advice in general.
Who really knows.. but I do firmly believe that we need to re-educate ourselves about what we buy and what we want to represent and support. The regional fashion industry is a growing trend, as people look towards their own culture and heritage, and appreciate home grown talent. This can be supported with good showcase opportunities, even whereby local talent can be taken abroad and showcased where there may be new ways of working and collaborations are key I believe on many levels , for example as we had the opportunity to do in with Kristina Fidelskaya.
Holding a give away/feel good competition for positive encouragement and focusing our images on the beauty of nature, interiors and lifestyle on Instagram stories. ie. We are not focusing on sales at all just good vibes. We have kept in regular contact via Zoom, not reducing salaries as some had to do, offering alternate accommodation where possible and planning further education and mentoring such as online courses and changing some tasks and duties around to create better understanding for each others roles etc.
Locally made was already in the works and will increase...continuously striving for and even more sustainable ways and more than ever supporting local small businesses.
A new way of thinking from the larger well established online e-commerce companies and department stores to support innovative independent labels and nurturing the creativity in a more ‘pro bono’ approach. If these companies and the major luxury goods companies stay stagnant and not reinvent the business approach of mass production I think we will see many of them disappear.
Again...I wouldn’t presume I have the right answers in this complex situation, let alone give advice during such a fragile moment in time. I only know what I will do myself and that I can share; go with my passion, experience and gut feeling - (then think it over very carefully with my brain!) Anyone less than passionate, creative, humble and genuine that is ready to embrace new ways will have a really hard time to pull through – even then there is no guarantee so be prepared to change but keep your cores firm. Easy to say but in the end action speaks louder than words.
To make us stop and think: is this the right thing to buy, who made it and what do they stand for, is it something I would use many many times and it will be even more beautiful with wear ( particularly with leather goods) is it respecting the natural beauty of its origin?
To me its about knowing I have paid for a quality product that a lot of thought , effort and love has been put into it and I will wear it with pride and confidence because of that.
