When we discovered Hill & Ellis pannier bags it was love at first sight. The classic, stylish designs, the beautiful leather, the ease with which they function, we never looked back. As we just received the new range of panniers designed especially for Brompton bicycles we thought we’d have a chat with Hill & Ellis director, Catherine and get her to tell us about her brand.
Catherine Ellis, Director, Hill & Ellis:
I have been cycling properly since university. I got into it as my parents gave me an old second hand Raleigh bike complete with dynamo lights to help me get about. Being a typical student, I used it to get everywhere, as it was free and quick. When I moved to London I continued cycling, as it always seemed to be the quickest, cheapest and most reliable form of transport.
Hill & Ellis Jasper Cycling Pannier £195.00
I mainly use cycling to get around so I commute and cycle to friends and yoga etc on my bike. But I have also cycled to Paris, Brighton, completed the Dunwich Dynamo and the Nightrider. In fact I cycled with our Birkdale bag on the bike to all these places to carry all my stuff. I am really enjoying longer rides and I’m hoping to get a lighter road bike to take long distance cycling.
Hill & Ellis Birkdale Cycling Pannier £255.00
Hill & Ellis started after a fruitless search for a stylish bike bag whilst I was working as a director at ITV. I needed something that attached brilliantly to the bike but also looked great when carried as a normal bag. I was often cycling directly to meetings and there was nothing out there that worked so I started the company back in 2013. Our aim is to design bags that look as good on the arm as they do on the bike and we are the only company to use patented spring loaded pannier clips which adapt to any pannier rack including all the thicker pannier racks out there.
Hill & Ellis Oscar Brompton Bike Pannier £215.00
We have three collections one is made in India by a company that manufactures bags for high end high-street stores and the other two collections are both 100% produced in Britain. In fact they are handmade in Hackney, East London round the corner from you at Cyclechic. All our bags are handmade by expert bag makers who have been producing bags for years and we know their expertise shows in the quality of the bags.
Hill & Ellis Professor Cycling Pannier £195
My favourite Hill & Ellis bag is the Professor, I love the simplicity of the style and the complimentary colours (navy and tan) but I also have a penchant for the bright yellow Bradley.
Hill & Ellis Bradley Cycling Pannier £195.00
We have just launched our latest British Made range designed to attach to the Brompton so we are busy telling people about that. We also have a new collection we are working on which we will be launching on Kickstarter. It is a beautifully crafted bike bag in canvas so watch this space.
Hill & Ellis Archie Brompton Bike Pannier £215.00
There are so many companies starting up and cycle street style seems to be so varied, whether you ride a fixie or a Dutch sit up and beg bike there is something out there for you. I also think that the attention cycling is getting at the moment is encouraging more people to give it a go which is great – the more people we can get cycling, the better.
Quick Q&A:
What bike/s do you ride?
A 1970s original British made Phillips Phaser. It’s red and gorgeous, though sometimes a little heavy up the hills!
Where is your favourite place to cycle?
Along the canal to Islington and around Regents Park; it’s a journey that makes me smile every single time, especially because you go past the zoo.
Dream place to ride?
Through France; probably through the vineyard region in the south. I have heard of the Marathon du Vin – a running marathon through a group of French vineyards. Wouldn’t it be amazing if they did that for cycling? Are you in?
Basket, backpack or pannier?
Pannier – obviously. One of our lovely leather ones.
What was your first bike?
It was my brothers hand me down, bright blue with stabilisers and reflective spokey dokeys. I wanted ribbons too but I didn’t get any.
Describe your cycle style:
In my head I look effortlessly stylish like Audrey Hepburn but seriously I wear my everyday clothes on the bike. I shop for cycling now so I can just hop on my bike dressed for work. It’s the dresses you have to watch out for – the dress you thought was going to be perfect can be a little bit too keen to lift up in the wind so I now watch out for the hemlines. I learnt the hard way!
Who is your cycling icon?
Can I have two?
1. Audrey Hepburn as she cycled because she loved it – and just for everyday adventures around Hollywood. She also looked fabulous all the time.
2. Laura Trott. Much younger than me but I am so inspired by her success. Also as a woman it is exciting to see so many great women taking the lead in cycling at the moment.
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