Reed Krakoff has been a key part of the American fashion conversation for more than 30 years. He was brought on to Bali-based jewelry brand John Hardy — owned by L Catterton — this year to refresh and modernize it after leading the creative at Tiffany & Co. and a 17-year stint at Coach before that.
As he told WWD, when he debuted his first Hardy collection: “My whole life is based around design and being creative and collaborating with people. That is something that for the last 30 years has been really fundamental to what brings me happiness. It’s rewarding for me to do design-related things in both the fashion world and my private life.”
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Here, WWD takes a deeper visual dive into what inspires Krakoff’s work at John Hardy and beyond.
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WWD: You’ve made an impact at several luxury brands; how does where you look to for inspiration evolve as you continue to evolve as a creative?
Reed Krakoff: I think they work hand in hand. Each brand creates a new path to building the next chapter. I always learn as much as I can about a brand, then put all of that away and explore more about a new way of thinking than I do about a particular image or design.
WWD: You are a photographer as well as a collector of fine art. How do these other artistic pursuits inform your designs?
R.K.: Being a photographer gives me a different perspective than a designer. It’s complimentary and helps me see the potential for a brand in a multidimensional way.
WWD: What emotions do you hope to evoke from your jewelry designs, and how do you accomplish that?
R.K.: Desire. If someone doesn’t feel desire, whether to wear something or simply admire or be inspired by it, it’s not a success in my mind.
WWD: Who are your jewelry icons, past or present? And why?
R.K.: I don’t have anyone specifically; I don’t really think of jewelry designers when I’m working on a collection. I’m much more influenced by unrelated creative disciplines.
WWD: What is your advice on how a modern customer should be wearing their jewelry in their day-to-day life?
R.K.: I don’t think there are rules on how someone should wear jewelry. The most important thing is to wear what you love often and in a personal way. Why keep the pieces you cherish in a box?
WWD: Is there a collection or a piece that resonates to you the most or marks a milestone at John Hardy?
R.K.: I think the Spear collection marks the next chapter at John Hardy. It takes the handwoven chain motif as a starting point, and imbues it with a modern, sensual luxury.