What inspires you the most?
History, heritage, archives filled with changing expressions, bloody brilliant women, blue skies and warmer climes.
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India's guest room at her Oxfordshire home. Sutta Duvet Set, Full / Queen, $545; Cabatti Gray Sheet Set, Full / Queen, $495; Lina Turquoise Decorative Pillow, $140.
Favorite books?
David Hicks' Scrap Books- compiled by my brother Ashley, from my father’s library of 25 unwieldy delicate books. These books form a continuous epic cycle, a life reflected, portrayed and sampled. My brother resolved to make them more accessible and paired down thousands of pages into one single volume- so others may continue to be inspired by our father’s work.
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Left, India with her kids. Right, India's son Amory at home. Cabatti Sand Sheet Set, Queen, $495; Tipusa Throw, $198; Vivada Sand Woven Quilt, $470.
What's something not many people know about you?
I was actually advised against taking the math’s exam in school because I was predicted to fail so appallingly it would reflect badly on the school.
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Do you have a favorite project that you've worked on?
Oh that’s easy - creating and co-running the India Hicks Lifestyle brand. I have never lived, learnt or laughed as much as I did during those 5 exciting years.
What's the best professional advice you've ever been given?
If you don’t know the answer, then find someone who does. When I first dipped my toe into the entrepreneurial world, my arsenal of business terms, policies and behaviors was very limited - a mentor told me to never be afraid to admit that and ask for help.
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How did you meet your partner David Flint Wood?
David was a friend of my older sisters - he used to occasionally take me out from boarding school, being six years older he made quite an impression with his devilish good looks and icy humor.
Many, many years later I found my way to Harbour Island. I had been reminded that David was now living in this remote spot. As the island is only half a mile wide and three long, it did not take much detective work to find David, shoeless and suntanned, he was running a small hotel with a copy of Joseph Conrad’s ‘An Outcast of the Islands’ in one hand and a Bloody Mary in the other. Four months later I was pregnant!
India and her husband, David Flint Wood.
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What's your favorite thing about John Robshaw bedding?
I was once giving a design talk in the USA. Up on the screen I was showing an image of my bedroom. I described the origin of the bed itself and the linens on it “The best part is I get to sleep with John Robshaw every night” The room laughed. After the talk a very elegant older woman came over “Might I introduce myself” she said holding out her hand “I am John Robshaw’s mother!” - I still like to sleep with John Robshaw. The textiles are timeless.