John Hardy (jewelry)
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John Hardy (b. November 28, 1949 in Canada) is a Bali-based jewelry designer whose line of intricate handmade jewelry and home accessories were inspired by his idea of "sustainable luxury", a belief that a business can be successful while still respecting the natural and human environments and planning for future generations.
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[edit] Biography
Hardy first traveled to Bali as an art student in 1975. There he learned ancient jewelry-making techniques from traditional Balinese silversmiths and incorporated these techniques into designs featuring complex patterns and shapes representing a philosophical harmony inspired the culture's stories, myths and legends.
[edit] Jewelry
Hardy products are sold widely in North America in fine department stores such as Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue, as well as other national and international retailers. In July 2007 Hardy sold his stakes in the firm, but remains the company's "Visionary".[1]
[edit] Environmentalism
John Hardy is an environmentalist an advocate of the use of bamboo as an alternative to timber for building and reforestation. His pioneering program of Sustainable Advertising aims to offset the carbon emissions associated with his yearly corporate print advertising by planting bamboo on the island of Nusa Penida. Working collaboratively with the Institute for Sustainable Communication, Hardy concluded that offsetting the carbon emissions associated with all of his print advertisements in the year 2006 would require two hectares of planted bamboo for 6.83 years, a calculation based on the estimated rate of carbon dioxide sequestration for bamboo grown on Nusa Penida. The project also achieves several social and conservation goals, as the bamboo is fully owned and managed by local community groups, while the planted groves provide a habitat for the endangered Bali Starling (Leucopsar rothschildi). In 2007 Hardy and his wife, Cynthia, endowed a new independent school called Green School (Kul-Kul campus) to provide a holistic education to children in a sustainable environment. The school is located in Bali near Ubud.
[edit] Accused of copyrighting Balinese traditional designs
In Jan 18, 2008 Edition of Bali Times it was reported that John Hardy has been sued in an American court over claims the multimillion-dollar jewelry empire used intimidation and other tactics to force another Bali-based jeweler from selling designs it claims are protected under copyright.
“John Hardy is trying to claim ownership of all designs originating from Balinese folk art, which originated from the people of Bali, and belong to them. My primary objective in filing this lawsuit was to protect these Balinese motifs. It’s important to me that the Balinese people be able to produce these motifs, and offer them to the world,” said BaliJewel president Christina Tobin. “The Bali Motif is like the Irish Shamrock; it’s as if [John Hardy's Company] are trying to claim ownership of it. It’s got to be stopped,” she said.[2].
