What does it mean to be authentic?

Delivering on your purpose.

Recently I watched an interview with Imran Amed, founder and editor-in-chief of The Business of Fashion (BoF). It was a fascinating insight into his journey. BoF sparked a new kind of fashion dialogue by disrupting the industry, embracing emerging technology and challenging mainstream media. It was a story that resonated and moved me. I found myself writing a quick letter to Imran letting him know…

"You sounded relieved to tell your story, which I am grateful to have heard."

I strongly believe that finding your passion, crafting your own story and being authentic is incredibly important. But what does it mean to be truly authentic? To me it’s knowing your purpose and delivering on it.

Much like Imran, I strive to explore new ways that an idea can spark, connect and resonate with people. My passion is driven by the understanding that bold creative ideas can be universal and have the power to transcend cultures, audiences and technologies. This is the narrative I am proud to own and is very much part of the HM story.

We’re a few months away from celebrating our 26th anniversary. Making a difference each day through the creation of beautifully crafted strategic design drives me forward every day. We will have some exciting news in the coming weeks to share as our story evolves. We may start to look a little different but our purpose remains the same.

The HM story has always been about being brave, bold, heroic, fearless and adaptable, centred around being both human-centred and customer-centric. Twenty-six years on we continue to strive for excellence around the design-based principles of: I understand; I recommend; I create; and I collaborate.

This is how I bring together design, branding and authenticity. If you would like to connect and discuss any of this please get in touch. I love hearing from you especially when it leads to a creative collaboration.

Until next time, Nancy.

PS. I was thrilled when Imran took the time to reply. Truly authentic.