Hunter, an authentic British heritage brand beloved of the posh, festival goers and anyone inbetween: It’s the mainstream label with proper appeal and sits on it’s tartan wingback armchair like a curled, sleeping cat.

There’s much to love: simplicity, versatility, a sense of tradition mixed with a slick, modern attitude.

And yet I have a gripe (I suspect it’s to do with old age)

Take a product like a mac or a wellington boot (both things Hunters do particularly well). Part of their appeal is their adaptability and flexibility…so why do their products have to be divided ‘mens’ ‘womens’ ‘girls’ and ‘boys’? Why this continual need to introduce psychological barriers to choice?

I’m starting to think that the division of the sexes is a background noise that all too often we just accept and that it’s insidious reach starts when are children and impressionable: Boys uniform, girls uniform, pretty school shoes for the girls, practical ones for the boys, netball for the girls, rugby for the boys.  And I can see the result of this in all the adults associated with school: The parents that are class reps for the school?…all women.  The contact emails for playdates?..are for all the women – even if they work full time as well.  If a child was sick..the school would phone the mother regardless of whether she was the main breadwinner or not.  Pick up and drop off? This is more mixed..but it’s certainly not equal.

If we want true liberty of thought and equal treatment of the sexes then little things like unnecessary labels really do need to matter.  And Fashion (with a capital ‘f’) is in the perfect place to take the first steps forward.

Laters, Kate x