| Parisian shoe and accessories designer Pierre Hardy is reputed and revered as a true craftsman of classic, artisanal goods as well as an innovative talent in the couture community. As a student of fine arts, the younger Hardy studied dance intensively. He first discovered the world of shoes in 1988, working as a design assistant at Dior. During that time, he was also charged with producing men's and women's footwear at Hermes, which also led him to heading its fine jewellery range. The creative upstart launched his own namesake of women's shoes in 1999, and has since expanded his business into handbags and men's shoes. In 2001, a collaboration with Nicolas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga saw their extraordinary "Open Toed Cage Sandals With Ankle Pads" winning rave reviews and the hearts of all fashionistas. Though his work now takes him all over the world, Hardy still describes himself as "very French". Assiduously avoiding fashion history or trends to influence each collection, Hardy regularly draws on conceptual art and architecture for inspiration. His aesthetic is mostly radical in spirit, architectural in shape and sculptural in volume. For women, Hardy likes a long, lean silhouette with a commanding, bold presence; while for men, he strives to redesign classics with reworked proportions. |
