Cara Cara

What inspired you to start Hart, and how has the brand evolved over time?

The brand started with a simple (maybe naive?) idea - timeless tassel earrings. After selling well over 100,000 pairs over a couple of years, I yearned to design jewelry with more meaning and symbolism. I’ve always been fascinated by the storytelling, and spiritual powers of jewelry and explored designing my first charms in 2019. I wanted durable, high-quality, soulful charm at an affordable price, and I saw a gap in the market. On the lower end, I only saw mass-produced commercial brands. On the high end, the solid 14K gold price point was unattainable for me. I made charms that embodied personal mantras like, “The wound is where the light shines in” and “Let Go or be dragged.” The designs came - and still do - from a very personal, authentic place.

How does your personal style and background influence your jewelry designs?

My personal style is mercurial – some days I wake up wanting to be simple and chic, other days I want to pile on prints. My style muses are the bohemian cool kids like Jane Birkin, Talitha Getty and Mick Jagger - a little rock’n’roll, gypset… timeless with a twist. I love the way they wear jewelry – a mix of high and low. They’d throw on a long charm necklace over a crisp button-down, mixing in funky beads or silk cords collected from travels. It’s a deeply personal, original way of getting dressed. Not trendy. My guiding light for design is to create timeless, effortlessly-cool jewelry that can express someone’s personality and stand the test of time. I ask myself, “Will this still look fresh and cool when my daughters wear it in 25 years?” 

Your pieces are known for their playful, nostalgic, and meaningful elements. What stories or emotions do you hope they evoke?

All the feelings! Each charm tells a different story, and hits a different note. Whether it’s a simple initial charm to honor a loved one… or one of our empowering talismans that remind you to dream bigger or let go of the bull$hit. I truly believe in the power of our charms. Not just their symbolism, but their innate quality. I know that’s corny, but objects do emanate a certain energy. We work really hard to ensure our charms have high vibrations. We work with responsible manufacturers and employ incredible plating standards so our pieces have an intrinsic high quality that you can really feel. Each piece is assembled in our studio in Charleston with so much care and attention. We definitely take the harder route, and it pays off. 

A friend is visiting Charleston for 48 hours, for the first time - what is your go-to itinerary?

Stay at The Dewberry, Zero George, or Post House Inn.

Eat dinner at Vern’s, followed by a nightcap at the Seahorse.

Morning coffee at Sorelle and a long walk South of Broad, pop into the Gibbes Museum of Art.

A long wine-filled lunch on the patio of Chez Nous.

Take a surf lesson at Folly Beach and finish with tacos and live music at Chico Feo.

What advice would you give to other creatives looking to turn their passion into a business?

Take action and pay attention to what happens next. Just try something. It’s fun to spend time daydreaming, plotting, writing business plans, etc. But ultimately, you’ve got to take physical steps, whether that’s creating a first sample, putting up a website, or calling a potential client. Taking action - however small - is like sending a signal to the universe to co-create with you. 

What are your go-to self-care or creative rituals to stay inspired?

So far this year I’ve remained dedicated to the ‘morning pages’ exercise that’s espoused by The Artist's Way book. They are life-changing. Each morning, I write three pages in my journal. It's a pure stream of consciousness that helps calm my mental chatter throughout the rest of the day.