After launching last November, Hardt Jewelry, created by Minneapolis jewelry designer Anne Lenhardt Koebele, quickly gained a reputation for its stylish, minimalist designs with a message. With its initial collection, dubbed “Equal Hardt,” it aims to raise awareness of equal rights for the LGBTQ community. (And it puts its money where its mouth is: a portion of proceeds from its Equal Hardt Necklace go to RECLAIM, a local LGBTQ youth organization.)
The hand-cast line has as much style as it does substance. Rendered in brass, bronze, and steel (plated in sterling silver, 14-karat gold, and black rhodium), the designs feature clean, minimalist lines and edgy details, such as pyramid-shaped studs and geometric shapes. In this jewelry that “inspires, empowers, and encourages change,” you’ll not only feel good, you’ll look good, too.
Now, the designer has opened a new Minneapolis showroom (located just north of the North Loop in the same building as the MPLS Photo Center), where it will stock its current collections as well as original paintings by Minneapolis artist Paul Peterson.
The showroom opens in conjunction with the launch of Hardt’s new spring/summer 2015 line, “Enlightened Hardt.” The line features a softer finish than Hardt’s previous collection, and introduces softer tones of rose gold and gunmetal. It will be on display and available for pre-order at tonight’s showroom grand opening party, where you can also check out two new necklace designs from Hardt’s forthcoming fall “Empowerment” collection. A portion of proceeds from sales during the evening will be donated to RECLAIM to benefit LGBTQ youth.
5–8 p.m. Thu. Northwind Lofts, 2400 N. 2nd St., Suite 102, Mpls., hardt-jewelry.com
[Read my interview with designer Anne Lenhardt Koebele]
The Equal Hardt Collection
The Enlightened Hardt Collectin
Necklaces from the Empowerment Collection
