Behind the scenes at John Hardy jewellery
A recent trip to Bali took me to visit the jewellery factory and showroom of the famous jewellery brand John Hardy. Nestled among picturesque rice paddy fields, on the outskirts of Ubud, the factory is a bamboo eco fortress with some serious security.
Built by John Hardy in the mid 1990’s the factory compound is constructed of a cluster of buildings entirely made out of bamboo. The compound houses over 600 workers all busy creating wonderful jewellery under the design leadership of Guy Bedarida.
A visit to a factory and a jewellery one at that is always special for me…don’t ask why… But this visit was truly inspiring. Not only is the compound beautifully arranged and presented, with impecable attention to details and some of the most friendly people I have ever met. But it is also run under the slogan “Greener Every Day” – an apt summary of the efforts and initiatives undertaken to make it a truly a “green” company. The grounds even have their own vegetable garden and the daily meals cooked for the entire staff ( yes – all 600 + who sits to eat together over 2 lunch break shifts) are cooked on the grounds with almost no electricity, but instead relying on good old fashioned fire.
The factory staff are spread out over a couple of buildings. What was striking was how young everyone was, how skilled and happy and proud they were to share and show me their craft and skills.
The factory compound also has a showroom where tourists can come and buy direct from a selection of classic collections and new designs. And in a setting like that – who can resist some jewellery shopping extravaganza.
Tags: bali jewelry, jewelry inspiration, john hardy, john hardy factory bali, john hardy jewellery
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