A piece of Bali
Rustan’s VP for merchandising home division Marilen Tantoco, Rustan’s member of the Board Maritess Tantoco Enriquez, general manager of John Hardy North Asia Godfrey Hung, United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, Rustan’s chairman and CEO Zenaida Tantoco, and Rustan’s president Donnie Tantoco. Photos by WALTER BOLLOZOS
John Hardy jewelry brings new retail concept to Rustan’s
Frost yourself,” that fictional ad campaign from an early 2000s rom-com, can be pretty accurate — jewelry can be cold. A person decked in bling can come across as intimidating and unapproachable, which is why we sometimes refer to rich people who don’t wear jewelry as down-to-Earth, as if that alone makes them so. American jewelry brand John Hardy gives its wearers no such issues; there is a warmth to each piece that can only come from the brand’s history and continuing story, taking place in sunny Bali, where the brand was founded.
Nature is its main inspiration, the earthy, complex parts of it: the movement and slenderness of bamboo trees, the texture on the skin of a snake, the colors of the ocean. John Hardy translates these into wearable pieces that favor design over mere shine, while staying true to its philosophy of craftsmanship and sustainability.
Recently, John Hardy opened its latest shop-in-shop at Rustan’s Department Store. The newly renovated store features elements of Bali, with the jewelry displayed in walnut wood showcases with traditional hand-hammerd Palu gilded metal. At the launch, John Hardy and Rustan’s invited Balinese artisans to the store to demonstrate how each piece is meticulously crafted by hand, from sketching to chain weaving, to hand-hammering, which are unique to the brand.
Its latest collections continue this tradition. The Modern Chain collection is characterized by bracelets and necklaces inspired by the artisanal technique of chain-weaving, updated by combining diamonds and waxing in silver and gold. The Legacy collection is the John Hardy icon, featuring handwoven reclaimed silver and gold with radiant gradients. The Dot collection, ever modern, uses precious woods, metals and stones. The Men’s collection, always especially detailed, is inspired by spirituality with Koka beads, metallicized Snake Wood, and intricate engravings.
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John Hardy is exclusively available at Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Shangri-La Plaza, and Rustan’s Cebu.
