Martha Hill
A true story of fashion
Back in the 1970’s Martha Hill’s designs had a unique handwriting and as a result attracted the attention of the fashion press who began to write about and promote the ranges. Her outfits were modelled by many household names such as Twiggy, Marianne Faithful and top model Marie Helvin
Fashion editors started to buy her clothes, as did celebrities of the time (the Rolling Stones, the Beatles and Lulu) and famous models would often be found ‘hanging -out’ at the Martha Hill boutiques as they were considered THE place to be seen.
Martha’s designs appeared in fashion magazines such as Vogue, Queen (now Harpers & Queen), young titles like Honey and Fab Magazine, and in the National press of the day. They were written up as inspirational and unique, and indeed Martha initiated many of the fashion styles that we associated with the era.
Original Martha Hill designs can still be found today in vintage shops, but Sally has always wanted to keep Martha’s fashion legacy alive. To achieve this Sally and her daughter Amy, have set up Vintage Martha Hill to reproduce many of the original Martha Hill designs that were sold in Martha’s famous Marylebone High Street and Kings Road boutiques.
Martha Hill Was An Extraordinary Woman
Martha Hill was an extraordinary woman pioneering liberating fashions and opening her own factory. In the 1930’s she designed and introduced to the market place knitted silk jersey, which could be made into underwear, hosiery and dresses, to the market place.
Her factory was also one of the first to provide her female work force with crèches, grocery stores and hairdressing facilities
During World War 2 she was an ambulance driver and worked for the Red Cross and was also the first women to join the War Effort Committee for Industry in Leicester.
After the war she dreamed of selling her own clothing through fashionable boutiques in London and she achieved her dream by opening two boutiques, one on King’s Road and the other on Marylebone High Street. During the 70’s her innovative designs attracted many the top models to the stores.
Martha also developed a wonderful range of natural skincare products. The Martha Hill skin care business is still thriving today and run by her nephews.
Take a look at our Gallery where you will find iconic images of Martha’s clothing range in fashion magazines from the 1970’s and also press cuttings about her fashion and skin care ranges.
Martha Hill lived her life fully into her 90’s and has bequeathed a wonderful legacy of clothing designs as well as her Martha Hill’s natural skincare range which is still thriving today.
