You can legit make a difference by buying this bag

Penny Goldstone
By Penny Goldstone
published

You might have missed the news, but iconic British handbag designer Sophie Hulme has sadly decided to close her brand due to two very rare medical conditions.

She said in a statement, 'I have been battling with two very rare medical conditions. Over the years they have become increasingly problematic so, after some difficult deliberation, I have decided to close the company after eleven years in business.

'It was an extremely tough decisions and it is with a heavy heart that I have had to make it. However, it is undoubtedly the right one. Ultimately my health, and its impact on my family, has to be my priority, especially now I have a little boy to think about.'

The designer suffers from Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) are a group of connective tissue disorders that can cause symptoms including joint hyper-mobility and pain, migraines, fragile skin and more. She is also battling the so-called Sleeping Beauty Syndrome, or KLS, which causes times of excessive sleep where the person can be unconscious for days or weeks on end.

This hasn't stopped Sophie from launching her last autumn/winter collection, as well as a limited edition collection later this year, and this is where you can make a difference.

For each handbag sold, the brand will donate 10% of the price to the charities that help other people with these conditions.

We've also been given a special code, MARIECLAIRE10, and when you enter it at checkout, Sophie Hulme will donate an extra 10% to the charities.

Here are my favourites from the last collection.

Shop now: Mocha Knot Shoulder for £650 from Sophie Hulme

Shop now: Ice Blue Ice Cream Square Albion for £550 from Sophie Hulme

Shop now: Blush Small Bolt for £495 from Sophie Hulme

Sophie added, 'I have absolutely loved having this brand. It has allowed me to do amazing things and meet and work with incredible people over the years. It has been a privilege to have so many interesting and ticketed people show so much loyalty to me and the brand. I would particularly like to thank my team who have all worked so hard ad been so supportive over the years.'

Penny Goldstone
Penny Goldstone

Penny Goldstone is the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire, covering everything from catwalk trends to royal fashion and the latest high street and Instagram must-haves.

Penny grew up in France and studied languages and law at the Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris before moving to the UK for her MA in multimedia journalism at Bournemouth University. She moved to the UK permanently and has never looked back (though she does go back regularly to stock up on cheese and wine).

Although she's always loved fashion - she used to create scrapbooks of her favourite trends and looks, including Sienna Miller and Kate Moss' boho phase - her first job was at MoneySavingExpert.com, sourcing the best deals for everything from restaurants to designer sales.

However she quit after two years to follow her true passion, fashion journalism, and after many years of internships and freelance stints at magazines including Red, Cosmopolitan, Stylist and Good Housekeeping, landed her dream job as the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK.

Her favourite part of the job is discovering new brands and meeting designers, and travelling the world to attend events and fashion shows. Seeing her first Chanel runway IRL at Paris Fashion Week was a true pinch-me moment.

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