Ive always had a bit of a love affair for anything made from a hide! Im not sure if has anything to do with the hide rug that lay on the living room of my grandparents house (a momento of a prize bullock from the year I was born) and a place where all the grandchildren rolled and played over for our entire childhood. Perhaps it is just the inner country girl within me and having grown up on a sheep and cattle property. I love the feel, the smell and that every hide is individual. And, they are made to last forever!
Fast forward twenty or so years, my first year of uni and saving up to buy an Ella Maiden hide bag…..my pride and joy! A few years later I stumbled across another hide find… my poco profile cow hide filafax (sentimentally named Sydney- reflective of my uni years spent living there!). Another twenty years on, and both these items are still treasured pieces. As for my grandparents hide rug, its still around too.
So, whilst scrolling through instagram a few months ago, I discovered Hide Road- a wonderful australian owned business selling gorgeous locally made purses, clutches, belts and totes. Flic Ward is a busy Mum from Narromine who has also always had a love for anything hide. Having always wanted to have her own business selling her own hide designs, Flic started Hide Road at the beginning of this year. Already her business is growing very quickly and word spreading through the social media pipelines!
Today, we are fortunate to have Flic drop by and tell us more about her wonderful business. As you will see below, she is one stylish, busy mummy and has a great sense of humour! A lovely story how a country mum followed her passion and now juggling a growing business and the joys of family life.
Hide Road goodies available at Ruby Maine, Narromine.
Now available at The Moree Gallery!Flic Ward on Hide Road-
I often say that the beauty of the beast is in a bag and I have found lately, that every time I see a cow, I see a clutch!
I am what my mother calls a ‘straight line stitcher’ and a ‘non sewer’! I can go straight backwards and forwards and that’s it! I know what I want but just can’t do it myself – so I have a great team I work with, my belts are all made locally in Dubbo and my bags are made in various locations around NSW – they are all cut, stitched, loving put together all by hand. I have effectively tapped into a wealth of knowledge, talent and work ethic that is so amazing and SO Australian!
I painstakingly choose
every hide (it is so important to me that they are 100% Australian). I agonize
over the leather for the straps. I tick off the zips and buckles we use. My darling Mum (who can sew!) makes the calico dust bags. My dear Dad made the first HIDE
ROAD leather stamp. My husband has been know to sit up with me into the wee
hours packing orders and stamping tags and the lining is a bit of a group
effort between my children and I!
This might be an
idea, that has been in my head for years but it is most definitely my family's
business!
I started Hide Road in January this year. We have not been going that
long but we have big plans and worldwide domination might have been mentioned!
I really felt it was
time to do something for me. I’ve been a stay home mum for almost 8 years now
and I love that role; for me there is nothing better than raising your family -
my children Macarthur (7), Topsy (5) & Dusty (3) are seriously the best
things in the world, but my days of nappy changing, warming bottles and toilet
training are over. I wanted something
that could evolve, grow and be flexible enough to fit in with my family and
P&F meetings.
I have been so
fortunate with FB & Instagram- all of my stockists and sales have come
directly from that (we are currently stocked in about 10 different stores
throughout VIC & NSW) and our website is growing in visitor numbers and
purchases all the time and we sell out quite quickly which baffles and
excites me!
Our new season range
is coming off in the next couple of months; there will be bright coloured
leathers, a few different tote bags and of course more hide!
I am always on the look out for opportunities, more
stores to stock (wholesales enquiries are welcome please email hideroad@outlook.com). You can find us at the Handmade Markets in
October in Canberra and hopefully a few more markets in November and December
(I can’t say yet as I am waiting on to hear back!)
I am having loads of fun with HR and that, I have
discovered is the most important thing!
I definitely dress for comfort (three little kids don’t
allow for anything else!). I’m always in
flats or ankle boots, skinny leg jeans, t-shirts etc (you get the picture!)
and I am not afraid of colour, be it fluro pink ballets or bright yellow
earrings.
I’d like to think I am a little stylish – but now that
I have said it out loud I just don’t know!!
My friend just described me as a ‘trendy mum’ not sure I would agree but
I am flattered – and I might as well run with that!
2. Three things you
can't live without at the moment?
My Hide Road Tote! Holds everything I need, as well as
everything my 3yr old son Dusty needs!
Skinny Legs Jeans – they are the go to for me everyday
in winter.
My limited edition Ray Bans from last season, the
coolest things I have ever bought.
And Coffee!
3. What do you love
most about your business?
Every day I get to play with a product (hide) that I
have had a life long obsession with. I
still have the hide wallet my mum gave me 20 odd years ago and I still love it.
I am quite a picky person and I like I have created
something that to me is perfect! And I
do get quite a kick out of selling it – thinking and knowing that someone else
is like me and LOVES the HR product as much as I do!
It also is about fulfilling a dream- that little idea
that has been toying in the back of my head for years is now a product that
people and other stores buy, and that is pretty amazing!
4. Diamonds or
Pearls?
5. Favourite online
store/s?
FASHION - boring I know, but I shop at lot at
countryroad.com.au.
KIDS – you can’t beat cottonon.com.au
HOME & INTERIORS – haveyoumeetmissjones.com.au and
jumbledonline.com
ACCESSORIES – hideroad.com!!
6. What do you
love most about living in the country?
7. Best coffee from...
Ruby Maine in Narromine. They serve Toby’s Estate and
its brilliant, so so yummy!
8. Favourite items
from your winter wardrobe?
Probably my Maya McQueen ankle boots – whenever I wear
them I feel a little fancy!
9. An average day for
you entails….
A three year old that is out of bed at an ungodly hour and
two other children who like to sleep in!
School lunch box packing that I try every morning to reinvent and make
interesting (and fail!). School drop
off, coffee and more coffee. A few hours in the HR office packing orders and
working on new designs and new ideas!
On the days when Dusty (my youngest) is not at preschool or daycare,
then there will be a few hours spent amongst it all playing farms and ‘what’s
the time Mr. wolf!’, school pick up, soccer & footy training, boring
homework, dinner and bed! And of course
housework and laundry!
10. Most favourite
way to unwind?
Sundays at home with my children and my husband, just
us hanging out together.
And…Maybe a glass of wine at the end of each of day!
From Hide Road with love xx
For your dose of some good hide 'deliciousness', pop over to Hide Road and have a look!
So many lovely pieces that will have you adding to your wish list…..perfect timing with Christmas only a few more months away!
Follow on Instagram
and Facebook
Images courtesy of Hide Road Facebook page
Wow, these are amazing, what a wonderful business with lovely original pieces. Wishing Flic every success and great interview Kylie as always. xx
ReplyDeletehow very cool and very boho! great interview with Flic!
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