Transcending a typical shopping trip for fine handcrafted jewellery, John Hardy lets you take home your very own piece of Bali.
They say that every piece of jewellery tells a story, and that couldn’t be more true for John Hardy – a Bali-born jewellery brand that honours the island with every link and chain it weaves. Taking inspiration from Bali’s local culture and traditions, this namesake brand of Canadian artist John Hardy never fails to amaze with its lovely, intricate designs and standout signature pieces – all of which help to tell John Hardy’s Bali-inspired story…
Ever since it was founded in 1975, every piece of John Hardy jewellery has been made by hand, with the brand’s most iconic collection featuring the traditional Balinese technique of chain-weaving. This time-honoured and lengthy process is celebrated and preserved in John Hardy’s signature necklaces and bracelets, carefully crafted by hand – one piece at a time – by an incredible community of local, all-female artisans.
And in true John Hardy fashion, honouring this elaborate process isn’t where this story ends. Instead, the amazing John Hardy Ubud Workshop & Showroom invites you to step inside the 400-acre grounds to see this iconic tradition in action. You can see for yourself the intricate and impressive work of the skilled artisans, and you can watch your very own, customised treasure come to life…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rLsnWHgGGw
Conserving the chain-weave
With its rich and cultural heritage, Bali has always been John Hardy’s main source of inspiration, moved by the island’s landscapes, resources, and of course, its culture. As such, the brand follows a strict environmentally-friendly and sustainable concept – which also happens to include sustaining Bali’s time-honoured jewellery-making traditions.
Passed down from the jewellers of Bali’s ancient royal courts, John Hardy follows the lauded eight-step process of fine jewellery making, particularly evident within John Hardy’s Classic Chain collection. This Balinese tradition of chain-weaving dates back thousands of years, borne from the art of weaving flowers, cloth and baskets from young coconut leaves for cultural and religious ceremonies.
Traditionally, women were the sole weavers of these honoured creations, seen as a means to empower and bring prosperity to their families. Inspired by the very same spirit, John Hardy’s handcrafted Classic Chain Collection of bracelets and necklaces are weaved by a community of all-female artisans, twisting and twining each individual link, one-by-one. After all, John Hardy is all about telling the human story, and this chain-weaving tradition quite literally weaves the story of these women and their culture into each breathtaking piece.
Meet John Hardy’s new Tiga Classic Chain
Taking the signature Classic Chain Collection to a whole other level, John Hardy has just launched the brand new Tiga Classic Chain – an evolution of the brand’s iconic line, whereby this new design receives a contemporary twist with its modern pyramidal form and reimagined double-faceted clasp.
And just like John Hardy’s other collections, the new Tiga Classic Chain is still wholly inspired by Bali, complete with that unmistakable and intricate chain weave. In this latest version, the Tiga Classic Chain is slightly bigger and built for stacking or making a statement, with additional layers and a more complex weave that reflects the Balinese philosophy of harmony and its three powerful forces; self, soul, and nature.
Take home your very own weave
To really illustrate the time, skill and passion that goes into each handcrafted piece of jewellery, John Hardy’s Workshop & Showroom in Ubud not only invites you to take home your very own treasure, this spectacular destination invites you to immerse yourself in the jewellery-making process. Transcending a simple shopping trip, here you can get up close and personal with the creation of your very own piece of jewellery, from the design process, wax carving, and weaving, to the moment you take home your very own piece of Bali – direct from the artisan who made it for you. Honestly, we can’t think of any other jewellery brand that does this…
But that’s not all. As part of this immersive and personalised experience, you’ll get to explore John Hardy’s Kapal Bamboo Boutique – a majestic cathedral-like bamboo structure that resembles a sailing boat floating over the rice fields – before joining a long table lunch with the John Hardy master artisans.
And hey, if time is not on your side but you still want your very own John Hardy masterpiece to take home with you, we have good news. Across the island, John Hardy now has three boutiques showcasing the current collections. Here, you can shop your favourite John Hardy pieces, from the Classic Chain Collection to the new Tiga Classic Chain and everything fabulous in between. You can find these boutiques in Nusa Dua within the magnificent The Mulia, Mulia Resort & Villas, in Jimbaran at AYANA Resort & Spa, and of course, in Mambal at the Kapal Bamboo Boutique.
Now that’s our kind of shopping trip….
John Hardy Ubud Workshop & Showroom, Banjar Baturning Mambal, Abiansemal, p. +62 361 469888, e. [email protected]
This story was sponsored by John Hardy.
