We sell many leading Bridal Gown and formal attire brands for the entire party or for your next formal event. René Hill Originals features a line of intricately woven and expertly handcrafted knitwear, kilts, traditional Bermuda cedar purses and jewellery for the entire family. The designer, René Hill, who was a senior lifestyle reporter at The Royal Gazette, former editor of Destination Bermuda a
nd contributor to Conde Naste UK Traveller, always had her hand in the textile arts. She was either designing something beautiful or spending weeks on end on one masterpiece or another. But as a busy reporter for the daily paper, René had put most of it down. That is until her daughter returned from university in December 2006 and asked if she could teach her to crochet so that she could make Christmas ornaments. Well you know the story, her daughter didn’t learn, returned to university and René was left with a ball of yarn and a hook. It was then that the designer, although well skilled in the art, decided to teach herself to read patterns and now designs and writes her own. Backtracking a little, her hobby turned into a business in late 2007 when she was heading to the UK for her daughter’s graduation. René decided to make scarves for family and friends in London, a place that was home to her for numerous years, before she took up a post at a newspaper in Bermuda. Her scarves were snatched up as soon as they were made, and the unassuming René just thought, ‘it’s because they’re cold’. René and her daughter stopped in New York for shopping and a girlfriend invited them to stay. Knowing her girlfriend would not accept cash or even dinner as thanks, she decided to make her girlfriend and her daughter scarves too. By the time she came home, her daughter-in-law had arranged a Secret Santa party and being too tired to attend, she sent what is now known as the Coral Pluff. Her daughter-in-law soon rang her up asking how much was she selling them for. René simply said: ‘Well, they’re not for sale, they’re gifts!” But her daughter-in-law and friends were insistent and they ordered nine. Upon delivery, her daughter-in-law, who worked for AON Bermuda, had more orders and René was making the exact same scarf design well into May of 2008. This continued for a further season and by the winter of 2009/2010 the designer had over 40 scarves on her repertoire and couldn’t keep up with orders and her daughter, who is now an auditor for PriceWaterHouseCoopers Bermuda finally and at times regrettably, learned to crochet. In the spring of 2010 and after months of designing, producing and still holding down a full time post at the daily, she designed what is now known as the Coral Infinity. She wore it to New York for a quick visit and was stopped in the streets by elderly Caucasian men to young Latinas and everyone in between – they all had one question: “Where did you get that scarf?” René was shocked, as New York is a city where no one speaks to random strangers. It was then that she decided to incorporate Emily’s Fair Trade Co. Ltd., raise funding from what is now known as the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation and began seeking manufacturers. Initially she began her search in China, but she wanted to be assured that whoever was making her crafts was paid well, as her scarves were never inexpensive. So René began looking into fair/direct trade manufacturers/producers. She found a Catholic Co-Op in Peru when she attended the Fair Trade Conference in Quincy, Massachusetts, during September 2010. She is proud to say that these women take so much pride in their work it’s as if René miraculously made each piece herself. This manufacturing model is an ideal in today’s world where quantity is often rated higher than quality. It also means that her base costs are static and unlike many other manufacturers where the more you order the cheaper it becomes – her prices are the same per item, so they aren’t the cheapest of options, but probably one of the best for quality and craftsmanship. René Hill Originals is as invested in remaining socially conscious as it is in maintaining the unparalleled style, sophistication and quality for which its line is known. Renowned for its fashion ingenuity René Hill Originals is setting the gold standard for style without compromising traditional craftsmanship. Every aspect of the brand, its innovation, its timeless pieces, its quality, continues to evolve with a contemporary and unique expression that retains the core values of its founder and creative mastermind, René Hill. Emblematic of her gregarious personality, the collection features an array of equally colourful assortments that produce as much excitement being worn as they do during creation. From the most popular Coral Infinity scarf to the two-toned, and sinfully red wonders, there’s something that’s sure to entice even the most discriminating of fashion palates. So whether you’re looking to add the perfect finishing touch to your ensemble, or are searching for a fashionable and comfortable way to keep warm, the René Hill Originals collection lends a rich accent to any look. And when you own a René Hill Original, you can rest assured that whether it was made by Peruvian craftswomen or Bermudian hands – everyone was paid a fair wage, so they can better their lives and those of their families.
