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Meet John Hardy’s New Creative Director, Described as an Industry Prodigy

Published

8 years ago

May 5, 2016

INSTORE Staff

Her first collection will come in the fall of 2017.

Hollie Bonneville Barden

Luxury jeweler John Hardy has appointed Hollie Bonneville Barden as its creative director, a role in which she’ll lead the design of the brand’s artisan handcrafted collections.

After graduating from London’s Central Saint Martin’s College with honors in jewelry design, she moved up the ranks at an internationally acclaimed fine jewelry house within the LVMH portfolio. She was then promoted to head designer and became the house’s youngest person to hold this role.

“Hollie’s extensive experience coupled with her innate creative ability and impeccable taste make her an unbelievable asset and a natural fit for our brand,” says Robert Hanson, CEO of John Hardy. “Hollie is recognized as an industry prodigy, and we are excited to see her interpret John Hardy’s rich heritage and continue our dedication to creating ultimate beauty through artisan handcrafted jewelry.”

“I fell in love with the way that John Hardy jewelry honors both traditional artisanship and innovative thinking,” says Bonneville Barden. “I look forward to bringing my artistic vision and high-end expertise to a brand with such a powerful history. My design approach shares the company’s emphasis on artisanship, timeless beauty and evocative symbolism, and I am thrilled to continue telling the John Hardy story.”

Bonneville Barden will split her time between New York City, where John Hardy’s global headquarters and showroom are located, and Ubud, Bali, where the brand’s design studio and workshop are stationed. She will report to CEO Robert Hanson and also serve on the company’s executive leadership team as a creative partner and thought leader. Her first collection will come in the fall of 2017.

When There’s No Succession Plan, Call Wilkerson

Bob Wesley, owner of Robert C. Wesley Jewelers in Scottsdale, Ariz., was a third-generation jeweler. When it was time to enjoy life on the other side of the counter, he weighed his options. His lease was nearing renewal time and with no succession plan, he decided it was time to call Wilkerson. There was plenty of inventory to sell and at first, says Wesley, he thought he might try to manage a sale himself. But he’s glad he didn’t. “There’s no way I could have done this as well as Wilkerson,” he says. Wilkerson took responsibility for the entire event, with every detail — from advertising to accounting — done, dusted and managed by the Wilkerson team. “It’s the complete package,” he says of the Wilkerson method of helping jewelers to easily go on to the next phase of their lives. “There’s no way any retailer can duplicate what they’ve done.”