In a world where inspiration is often found in unexpected places, Katrina Hart stands as a beacon of courage and resilience. From her transformative journey away from the corporate world to her commitment to wellness, Katrina’s story is a testament to the power of self-love and the pursuit of purpose. I first had the privilege […]

In the face of global atrocities, a group of compassionate photographers and organisations have come together to create a tangible impact for the most vulnerable victims, women and children. As we bear witness to the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Photographs for Peace emerges as a little beacon of hope. Agender unites Médecins Sans Frontières […]

As we bid farewell to the wonderful of 2023, I wanted to share my deepest gratitude & love to our phenomenal clients, suppliers, artisans, trades & our remarkable team. Your unwavering support, trust & creativity have been such an important part of our journey, so we say a massive thank you. EMBRACING CHANGE This year […]

We at Hills & West create timeless pieces that are made by hand making them all a little bit beautifully different. From a cross-body bag to a backpack, we have created all your everyday companions with a few fun ones too. We’re overwhelmed with joy with your contionous support and with your gorgeous response to […]

The short answer is ABSOLUTELY YES, you can claim your handbag as a tax deduction. Up to $300. But don’t go shopping just yet! There are some important things to keep in mind. The basic rules for claiming a handbag or briefcase as a tax deduction is that it must be directly connected with producing […]

We believe in the transformative power of thought, decluttering, purposeful styling and design. Also a little bit of fun in everyday life. We are also huge lovers of minimalism for functionality and setting yourself up for success through easy habits that make life more enjoyable. We are all about paired-back, not cut-off. Creating a home […]

We want to have a positive impact on this planet. Doesn’t everyone? When we first created our Sustainability policy in 2020 it seemed like such a difficult task and were a little nervous about how successful we would be (we are a small business after all) However, after the bushfires, huge impacts of climate change […]

LOOKING FOR LAST MINUTE XMAS GIFTS? Join us for our Holiday Gifting Pop-up at the H&W STUDIO – Surry Hills, Sydney 12th December 10.30am to 3pm The Australian Made Collections family of makers are bringing together their unique pieces, one-offs, candles, samples, clothing, trinket dishes,  fashion, cheeseboards, jewellery, bags & more. With some can’t resist pricing. Including […]

There once was an apple happily perched on a tree… The sun was shining and this juicy apple was getting ready for pressing. It knew that like its forefathers it would be made into a delicious juice to be enjoyed by many a family together. What this apple did not know, was that humans had […]

Are you an all round go-getter, who loves working on a diverse portfolio? Love what you see at @hillsandwest @hillsandwestinteriors and feel like you would like to join the small team in Surry Hills? We’re on the lookout for a super talented creative who loves nothing more than getting stuck into a project and bringing […]

We care deeply for our planet and reducing our environmental footprint, and catering to our environmentally conscious customer, is important to us. We’re excited to share that we have taken another step forward and partnered with One Tree Planted @onetreeplanted to help reforestation of our Australian land, one bag at a time. Trees clean our air […]

Having East Village as the first Hills & West home has been an absolute privilege. I was very excited to share our Hills & West, Australian Made Collections story with the East Village team. Following are some of the questions we covered; What has been the hardest challenge you have faced in business overall? What […]

As you know, being Australian made is part of our DNA. We love supporting local and within our first Hills & West store, in East Village Sydney, we are helping you discover over 15 Australian made artisans with a similar passion and ethos as ours. We asked the Hills & West family of makers, why […]

While in lockdown we have been chatting, and creating (see our Style’s By You beauty later on), with a fabulous friend of ours, Estelle, stylist and founder of Micky In The Van. Estelle is a visual storyteller and her imagery and wearable art take you on magical, very fabulous (can I use fabulous more than […]

Timeless active-leisurewear for the modern woman, inspiring you to move with ease, confidence and in these uncertain times, at your own pace. Today we introduce you to the Melbourne active wear label, Jasmine Alexa. Jasmine has a gorgeous mission, even more amazing than making beautiful, comfortable, sustainable and ethical clothing, Jasmine wants women to feel […]

Do you know your ‘official’ body shape? I know I have always been pretty confused (and it has changed a little over the years 😉 So I decided it was high time to demystify body shapes and get some tips from the professionals. I am very excited to sit down with The Style Doctor extraordinaire, […]

Supporting local is what drives us and whist Melbourne is still in lockdown, we want to continue to support and share some of our creative friends. Today we are introducing you to Caz, from Cazinc The Label, an incredibly talented, multifaceted woman who shares many of our loves (trans-seasonal wardrobe staples, interiors and champagne to […]

As Melburnians face another lockdown we wanted to help in some way, and thought it would be the perfect time to share some of our favourite Melbourne brands and their backstories. Today we are introducing you to Sanserié, part of the FAID Store family, and its gorgeous founder Monika Peff, who is very aligned to […]

When Hayden, our talented Gentleman’s Essentials Collection photographer, introduced us to his friend Adam, we were very excited to hear about his latest project, The Open Door Collective. The Open Door Collective, T.O.D.C, is a platform with the goal of bringing individuals, and their businesses, to light; highlighting their stories, their journey’s, sharing what makes […]

With the advent of the colder months, and boy has it become chilly, it’s time to have a winter wardrobe revamp and make sure your wears are ready to keep you nice and cozy. If you haven’t started your winter wishlist yet, don’t worry, here’s stylist Jamie Azzopardi recommendations. He collated pieces from some of […]

With the expansion of the Hills & West Home product range into styling and decoration, with Hills & West Interiors, we are excited to be expanding the team. Over the last 12 months we have been developing our Interiors styling offering and partner network both locally, in the UK and Europe, and today we would […]

We love sharing a backstory and today we are introducing you to 31MADISON, an online destination for fashion and accessories. Tony, 31MADISON‘s founder and driver, has worked with global brands, large and small, for many years. He knows exactly how difficult it is for independents to build an audience, so decided to do something about […]

When launching the Gentleman’s Essentials Collection last year, I was obsessively stalking Instagram for stylish mens’ accessory inspiration (does anyone else get lost in an Insta hole?). When I scrolled across The Classy Lad, I was impressed with the abundance of dapper styling inspo, from suiting to accessories, and when he reached out about my […]

Meet Gallantoro, a unique online destination and store that invites you to tap into your inner Gentleman. That is something we definitely try to encourage 🙂

#WeWearAustralian#ShopforaCausewithKlarna12th May 2020 – 15th June 2020 After an incredibly successful #WeWearAustralian campaign reaching over 7 million publication views and over 11 million through social media, we are continuing the Australian love, this time powered by Klarna who want to encourage more people to shop Australian. Now, with the support of leading shopping experience and payments […]

Timelessness, fun and full of heart, meet Charis Pixie’s Silk Wolfe. During COVID-19, I wanted to help put a spotlight on some of my fellow Australian designers, who too, are trying to navigate these uncertain times. Designers who want to create pieces that stay in your wardrobe, not fast and disposable, are made for durability, […]

Australian made is what inspires and drives us. We’re so proud to support #WeWearAUSTRALIAN: an initiative to raise awareness for everyone in the fashion industry, with an Australian passion like us, impacted by these uncertain times. Designers and creatives who are uniting as an industry to contribute to the rebuilding of our Australian fashion community. […]

With a passion for photography and the sea, Sydney-based Sarah Silverton has spent decades capturing the sand and surf along the gorgeous coastlines of Australia. Her evocative seascapes have been exhibited through wall art, homewares and fashion accessories. All of which are beautifully designed and made in Australia. You know that we are huge supporters […]

Did you know that only 8% of the clothing sold in Australia is made locally? That means a whopping 92% is sourced, sewn, packaged and imported overseas.  At the same time, there are many Australian designers braving the status quo and sustainably designing, sourcing and producing locally, with incredible craftsmanship and love.  So, how do […]

2020’s Chinese New Year marks the beginning of the first in the 12-year Chinese calendar cycle, the Year of the Rat. * 2019 marked the Year of the Pig, the last animal on the Chinese zodiac. * For those who can’t help but look ahead, in 2021, the second in the cycle is the Year of the [...]

Here we have it (finally!) part 3 of my American vacay to the oh so gorgeous Malibu and my guide to EAT, STAY, PALY & SHOP to make your own holiday smooth and easy! A little background on Malibu before we jump in. Being on the West Coast of California, this city is also known [...]

We love introducing you to talented humans. People, who have a deep passion, identify a gap in the market and then have the fearless resolve to go for that dream and create. Bridgette Kirk, former TV presenter, founder and creator of Spilt Milk (ladies you need to get your hands on a canister of this miracle 3-in-1 [...]

For the launch of our Gentlemen’s Essentials Collection, we were lucky to have had the opportunity to collaborate with The Bespoke Corner Tailors, whose made-to-measure suits are the consummate example of a Gentleman’s essential. Joining forces eight years ago, Rami and Miles have created an experience like no other which goes beyond simply creating fine [...]

Welcome to part two of my US trip earlier this year, and this time we explore the fabulous and oh so glamorous Palm Springs. I have to share that I immediately fell in love with this place nestled in the dessert and contniue to be inspired by the architecture and interiors. It is a bucket [...]

  At Hills & West we’re all about introducing you to amazing Australian talent and unique products. We also have a huge appreciation for beautiful branding and packaging, and when this is mixed with some of our favourite cocktails, did we mention Negroni and Old Fashioned, we had to delve deeper and share. Meet David […]

We love showcasing the passionate people who help elevate and share independent designers and start-ups stories. The platforms who understand the immense value of support and collaboration in the early years to help grow awareness of the talent and incredibly unique products out there. I’ve had the pleasure to interview Kassandra Craig, one of these […]

Spring is finally here. It is a time of rebirth and renewal in the outdoors and so it is a glorious time to do the same indoors. It’s an opportunity to put away some of your dark colours and throws that kept you feeling cozy in the winter months and add some fresher, brighter colours […]

Fathers Day is not too far away and we want to make sure you get your father the perfect gift. No more last minute scrambling around quickly grabbing a coffee mug, socks or Bunnings gift cards 🙂 We’re here to give ideas. Also, if you get your Hills & West weekender bag orders in this [...]

Behind every brand is the wonderful people that makes our hearts beat and creatively thrive. We’ve been so lucky to have really passionate people who genuinely want to support our mission and help us be a success. From the beginning our mission has been simple - create exceptional pieces, while doing what we love, and [...]

  I’d like to introduce you to the fabulous Louise Pearce, a wonderful and passionate soul I worked with before I started Hills & West at SBS. Louise was a corporate who worked with C-suite media tycoons before she decided to have a sea change and move with her family to Port Macquarie. Once her […]

I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. A true fashion icon and style inspiration to us here at Hills & West, we’d love to introduce to you the fabulous stylist and model Violet [...]

  Fashion Week provides a fabulous buzz for all fashionistas alike. Letting us see the latest trends, designs and meet the designers. Of course, our secret delight is all the street style inspo. Since we were unable to attend Mercedes Benz Fashion Week this year (we were in South Africa working on our next project […]

Amelia Soegijono is a beautiful soul with a mission to use her photography as a vehicle to tell the much needed stories of the world and make it a better place. Amelia and I met in March at the Queen Hood event and instantly connected about wanting to capture all life’s special moments, our mutual [...]

Who is Coco? I am Coco Louise an international stylist, personal shopper and fashion trendsetter. I was born in Sydney and lived in Beirut Lebanon for 10 years where I completed High School. Based in beautiful Melbourne now! As a person, I am extremely bubbly, I love a lot  (if there is such a thing) and […]

We love introducing you to inspirational women who are challenging the norm with the aim to bring you something exceptional and different. Ashley Lim, creator of the self-named luxury shoe brand, is definitely one of these women. We were lucky to meet last year when we pooled our resources to open the doors to our [...]

We’re very excited to introduce you to our newest member of the team, Hayley. As a designer and ‘will do anything’ intern for the last few months, we just love having her around and we decided together she had to join the team. She approached us after seeing Hills & West in our pop-up in […]

Almost a week ago we celebrated International Womens Day. A day to remember those who have impacted our lives for the better and champion those who have and are paving the way for equality. Reflecting on this day, we wanted to introduce you to Elka Whalan (fka Graham), founder of Queen Hood. With her positive [...]

As you build your brand and meet and work with more and more fabulous creatives, it is such a wonderful fuel of inspiration. Meet Christopher Quyen, founder at Seakyu Creative, the photographer behind Hills & West latest shoot. We worked together to create some playful fun with the new Lunar Collection and give the Hills [...]

Situated amongst the treelined pathways of Woollahra on the iconic Ocean St is a beautiful gem of a gallery known to locals and people afar as .M Contemporary. In the 5 years its been operating, .M contemporary has previewed the works of both established and emerging artists from around the world — showcasing their unique [...]

We were very excited when Label Magazine approached us and said they were interested in our story. They had seen our collection on Here is the interview titled: Leather Lover 1 Tell us about the process of getting Hills & West off the ground. In October of 2014, I was coming back from a work […]

We love to bring you the wonderfully diverse journeys of likeminded designers… especially those who strive for high quality, locally handmade pieces that go against mass produced, and focus on the unique and different. Meet ISABELLA QUEEN, she is one of these inspirational designers who has such an interesting story, I had to share it. […]

I love sharing other people’s stories however this time I wanted to share my start-up, fashion journey and say that it is ok to reach out for help. Here is a little piece I wrote for the Inspiring Rare Birds Community. Read the article here or below. Let’s be honest. No matter our achievements or […]

Recently I caught up with the Australian Fashion Council to talk all things design, inspiration, how Hills & West came to be and where I see it going. Hope you enjoy this little Q&A 🙂 TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR OWN INDUSTRY BACKGROUND AND WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO ‘FASHION’? In a few words; branding, [...]

When you are an emerging independent fashion label, building your profile and getting in front of potential people, who appreciate and love your product, is hard. About a year and a half ago, a gorgeous entrepreneur reached out to me and said she had a new project she wanted Hills & West to be part [...]

I always love to discover the stories behind events or people, so I decided to look into the origins of Mother’s Day and why we chose this day to honour and give gratitude to our mothers and motherhood. When I did a little digging celebrations can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, […]

A gallery with a difference, the Platform Gallery was founded upon the concept of generating a space to showcase the work and craftsmanship of local designers, makers and creatives with a ‘no paintings’ policy. With a desire to challenge the notion of what constitutes art, Platform Gallery showcases the works of master crafters and artisans by ensuring [...]

Every season we hear about what’s "in" and now "so so out". What was yesterday super fashionable today is no longer part of the wardrobe of the fashion forward. These trends fuel the impulse overconsumption of pieces where the craftsmanship expires just as fast as the hype. Has the love for the timeless piece gone? The [...]

Meet Theo, a Melbourne-born clothing label with a soft spot for sustainability. Established in 2016 with the desire to create sweatshop-free staples for the everyday wardrobe, we love what it stands and even more the people behind it. I met the founder and designer Esther at Melbourne Design Market in June and I was absolutely in [...]

We are hitting the design market scene in Melbourne this June 25 at Melbourne Design Market. This year one of our big ambitions was to get out there and showcase our wares as much as possible. After a successful Finders Keepers in Sydney we are getting ourselves ready for Melburnians this June. One Australia’s much-loved [...]

After seeing a gap in the market, a chat over the back fence and nine months of creating, mother + joey was born. This is a wonderful story about two mother’s who saw a gap in the market, wanted to create a legacy and still have the flexibility to manage their five kids aged five and under. [...]

Starting a new brand is incredibly daunting. Entering the fashion world and putting yourself out there in front of fashion media is a whole other level of scary. When I started I was really lucky to have some friends to guide me. I also was introduced to many successful designers and stylists who have been [...]

By now everyone must know I am an absolute lover of high teas. Not only is it a culinary journey of sweets, savouries and bubbles, it is an experience that often surprises and delights if you are a foodie like me. Many years ago, during my SBS Food days, I was lucky to be introduced [...]

Imagine bringing your holidays to life on wearable art? Also, how amazing would it be to have the opportunity to work with Qantas, Jess Hart, Edwina McCann and Nicole Warne, inspiring photographers to share their favourite shots to create a collection? Well Bird and Knoll have made it happen. This creative duo have been creating wearable [...]

I was incredibly excited when KarryOn asked me if I would be interested in having a chat about all things travel and Hills & West. Meeting in my new hood in Abbotsford, Melbourne, following is the very generous and complimentary (*blush*) account of some of the things we chatted about. I have to say, I do […]

We often read stories of people who have become famous, invented something, sold something, made loads of money, cheated, double crossed or have had something disastrous happen to them. Today I want to share a story of a person, who is just like you and me, working through life with dreams and passions is chasing [...]

Today I want to share the story of the two amazing artisans behind Hills & West bags: Marianna and Boris. I have been so lucky with my journey so far. The connections I have made and the partners I work with have made this dream such a beautiful reality. So I want to tell their [...]

“Travel is the only thing you can spend money on that will make you richer” Discovering all the wonderful new experiences, cultures, meeting interesting people, delicious food and super stunning landscapes.... almost everyone loves travelling. How can you not. I personally just can’t go a year without scratching the wanderlust itch. Four months ago I [...]

A photograph can capture a special moment, tell a story, bring a product to life or inspire someone on so many different levels. Photography has always been an core ingredient and love in my life. From my days with film in London, over 10 years ago, when I photographed indie band’s record covers and model’s [...]

Positivity breeds positivity! I love artistry and when I first met Nicola, a flawless bundle of energy, her passion and creativity was infectious. In this creative edit I take you into the world of a makeup artist, her top tips, words of wisdom, inspirations, working with Margaret Zhang, Dior and more. Nicola’s story I originally [...]

I love a story. Especially when the story comes from the heart. When I met Sonya from dog&boy we instantly had a mutual connection. We both had our corporate pasts, an understanding of the rollercoaster ride of the creative journey involved with a new business and we also shared a deep understanding on the importance of appreciating the [...]

We all know how confident you feel when you look sharp. Never underestimate the power of the outfit. Especially when in the corporate world; I find it amusing how we spend hours polishing up on our credentials, industry news and skills, however when it comes to our wardrobe, people just don’t invest the time to curate [...]

  I love voyeurism and hearing other people’s stories. I love it even more, when other creative people make the effort to bring stories to life. When I stumbled across Two Quirky Birds, it was a fabulous concoction of all the wonderful things I adore including interiors, fashion and food, delivered in a deliciously, honest […]

Starting a new accessory label is not an easy feat. Not even when you are as passionate as I am. You have the upfront investment with your time; brand design and development, website development, content creation, sampling, product photography, merchandising, look books; materials such as leather and hardware and then there is the largest expense […]