VUE

When entering the 1,200-square-foot Flagship Boutique on the first floor of a historic SoHo district build- ing, one is embraced with the sounds, smells, and images of Bali. e charm of Bali is wo- ven into the space by a Ketra lighting system that chang- es throughout the day, mim- icking the natural world and connecting observers back to where it all began. As guests shi onto the second floor of the boutique, they are greeted with an open space revealing the Artisan's Workshop. Here, the Artisan-in-Residence Pro- gram–which occurs seldomly throughout the year–offers a rare opportunity to learn and shed light on the ancient tech- niques of the Balinese cra. e company's intrinsic roots are fixed in its values of community, artisanship, and sustainability. e artisans guide guests through a display of tokens used during the jew- elry making process, tell sto- ries of the myths that inspire the forms, and demonstrate mastery of the cra. e Ar- tisan-in-Residence Program breathes life into the creative narrative of each piece and the comprehensive process of fab- rication. As expert crasmen, the artisans create objects that encapsulate the beauty of John Hardy's vision. By means of the eight-step design process, makers highlight the fine jew- elry techniques derived from the goldsmiths of the Balinese Royal Courts. While there is only one master model in the world and the original is kept at company headquarters, each model is duplicated by hand to create more pieces. The master model is set in a container and liquid silicon is poured over it to form a silicone mold. Once the design is finalized, the carving step begins. The artisans hand-sculpt the designs into a three-di- mensional model made with jeweler's wax which is meant to be carved, filed, sawn and polished. This process can take several weeks to complete. Next, the master model is created by casting the wax carving in a gypsum mold. The process involves plac- ing the wax model into a flask and pouring a mixture of gypsum powder (soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate) and water over the model like plaster. Once the mixture is dry, the model is placed inside a kiln, allowing the wax to burn off, and leaving a negative space inside the model. Liquid silver is then poured inside the model to form the shapes that make the master model. THE ARTISAN WORKSHOP THE EIGHT-STEP DESIGN PROCESS 2 3 1 4 5 Once the silicone mold is cured, the artisans cut it in half and remove the metal model. Soft wax is injected to create the wax tree which is later removed and refined by hand. The eight-step process begins with a sketch. Each season, the design team is led by Creative Director Hollie Bonneville Barden to develop a concept through sketches and detailed watercolor illustrations. Unlike most jewelry companies, the inception of the design does not involve modern technology – every rendering is executed by hand. VUE ON FASHION V U E N J . C O M 35

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