PIERRE HARDY

In 1999, Pierre Hardy began his Paris-based namesake line with women’s footwear. Endowed with some of the most important honors by the French Ministry of Culture, including Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and subsequently Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, Hardy has expanded his line to include accessories, men’s footwear, and most recently a perfume—all representative of his signature boldly modernist yet polished creativity. Hailing from a background in dance and holding a degree in plastic arts, Pierre Hardy is a master shoemaker known for his radical aesthetic and striking use of form and structure.

The French designer draws inspiration from abstract paintings and graphic imagery, invoking 21st-century modernism throughout. Thirty-plus years into the industry, Hardy has designed women’s collections at Christian Dior, heads Hermès’ shoes and fine jewelry collections, and was a long-time collaborator of Nicolas Ghesquière during his tenure at Balenciaga.