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Hedley & Bennett X Richer Poorer Toe the Line Between Design and Duty

09.12.18 | By
Hedley & Bennett X Richer Poorer Toe the Line Between Design and Duty

It seems everywhere you look – television, magazines, food sites, and inside the world’s best restaurants – if there’s a chef working, there’s a good chance you’ll spot a Hedley & Bennett apron, identifiable by their unmistakable red ampersand logo. The aprons have become synonymous with the rising generation of younger chefs around the globe, becoming nearly as ubiquitous as avocado toast on brunch menus. And now they’ve set sights on adorning the feet of chefs, bartenders, servers, and any hustling creative in similar colorful fashion.

Hedley & Bennett founder Ellen Bennett represents the inspirational epitome of the scrappy one-person operation hustling into a multimillion-dollar operation, earning the title of “Culinary World’s Apron Queen” for her unceasing drive and efforts combining serving the functional needs required of cooking professionals with her keen eye for fashionable expression. Looking at their vast catalog of patterns and fabrics, it’s then no surprise H&B would expand deeper into the territory of garments and accessories serving food professionals and creatives alike.

This time it’s in partnership with fellow Californian clothing brand, Richer Poorer – offering a quartet of colorful, modern socks emblazoned with entrepreneurial messages any up-and-comer will recognize as mantras and philosophies to live by: “The Hustle Is Real” and “Get Shit Done”.

When asked about the designs, Bennet cites the colors and designs of Mexico as muse, specifically the works of mid-century architect Luis Barragán’s and artist Frida Kahlo:

“Barragán’s architecture is really packed with lines and shapes, shadows and texture, while Frida’s art is so vibrant and alive. So I feel like in many ways these socks are a mash-up of these two incredible Mexican artists and designers. They’re bright and colorful, architectural and timeless.”

From Ellen Bennett, Founder and Designer of Hedley & Bennett:

Color doesn’t have time attached to it and this is one of the things that I love the most about Mexico.

Fortunately, one doesn’t have to be stationed slaving away behind a restaurant kitchen station to appreciate the design of these graphical socks. Even the Pop Tart toaster chefs of the world can enjoy a pair and their colorful design and message, all four designs (and a complementing t-shirt) available at the H&B site.

Gregory Han is a Senior Editor at Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.