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RMS x HART Jewelry Interview: From Charleston, With Hart

RMS x HART Jewelry Interview: From Charleston, With Hart

I first met Hart Hagerty the way I meet many of my favorite people—through work. We met at the launch of our ReDimension Bronzer event at The American Theatre in Charleston where she was asking for makeup advice (naturally). I instantly connected with her craft and how her pieces carry intention. Mantras, symbols, little reminders you keep close. When we started dreaming up The Lip2Cheek Locket together, we kept coming back to the same idea: wearable meaning. A modern keepsake you can slip on, swipe on, and take with you.

Our locket nods to my own personal talisman I’ve worn for years, as well as those 1930s compacts—objects with purpose—updated for now: thoughtfully refillable, designed to be lived in. Inside is Beloved, my kind of red: fresh and instantly chic on lips or cheeks. And engraved within: Carpe Diem. A daily nudge to say yes to the moment in front of you.

Below, I sat down with Hart to talk talismans, craft, intention, and why a red lip can change your whole day.

RMS: Let’s start from the beginning, hon. What pulled you into jewelry? Was there a moment where you just knew this was it?

HH: I grew up in a very soulful, curious, intellectual household. My parents are artists. My mom would read us Rumi and Joseph Campbell poems at the breakfast table. I’ve long been fascinated by the power of language, mantras, and spirituality. I’ve also been obsessed with clothing, style, and fashion since I could remember. Jewelry was a natural place for my attention to turn to – no other wearable item imbues as much storytelling, history and spirituality than jewelry. I love symbolism and spiritual power in this category. 

I am not a trained jewelry designer (or MBA entrepreneur, either). Everything I know about jewelry today I’ve learned along the way. Guided by curiosity, asking dumb questions, and mistakes. 

hart x rms lip2cheek locket

RMS: You’ve said your designs are talismans. Tell me—what are some of your favorite intentions or mantras to build into your pieces? How do you want people to feel when they put on your pieces?

HH: “The wound is where the light shines in.” - Rumi. This quote inspired the Cracked Heart Charm. I designed this talisman as a response to seeing a dear friend struggle (and ultimately perish from) her battle with cancer. Our friendship forever changed me. 

“Memento Mori” - a tenet of stoicism - “remember death” -  that I live by. I truly believe every moment is a gift. We must live our lives to the fullest and have gratitude for each day – seen on our Memento Mori Charm

“Maiora Spera” - “dream bigger” - is engraved on the back of our Flying Pig Coin. Your life can only be as big as your dreams. Ask the Universe for more. It is not on a budget.

RMS: You don’t take shortcuts, and neither do I. We’re both artists at heart—but we’re also picky as hell about what we put into the world. Tell me more about the thought and craftsmanship that goes into each piece. I’ve seen your designs in person—it looks and feels like solid gold. What goes into making it so luxe without making it out of reach? 

HH: Thank you. That means a lot. SO MUCH goes into each piece. Each talisman starts with a thought, a note in my phone, a conversation with a wise friend, or a journal entry. I design for myself – what mantra do I need help remembering? What do I want to call in? Then I spend a lot of time looking at vintage jewelry and my design reference books. I sketch in pencil over and over again. I then bring in my technical designer – a mega-talented designer who works for Tiffany by day – and we go back and forth on every detail down to the half millimeter. Our goal is to imbue the designs with as much fine jewelry details as possible. The shape of a bezel, the stone settings, the profile. It all adds up. 
rms x hart lip2cheek locket

RMS: RMS is based out of Charleston, and you are a seventh-generation Charlestonian! What is it about this city that fuels creativity—and why do you think it keeps calling artists like us home?

HH: Charleston’s historic and natural beauty fuels my creativity. When I walk out the door of my house - built in 1840 - and stroll the neighborhood with my dogs and daughters, I never cease to discover a new detail that delights me. The iron scroll of a garden gate, the molding around a door frame, the night herons nesting in the oaks, the smell of jasmine. A feast for the senses, Charleston is a hedonist’s dream. 

RMS: We both believe in attainable luxury. Why does that balance—beauty and accessibility—matter to you?

HH: I believe that people deserve better in the fashion jewelry category. On one end, you have soulless, mass-produced garbage that will tarnish quickly and end up in a landfill. On the other, you have extremely expensive solid 14K gold jewelry that is lovely but most people cannot afford. My goal is to design pieces that fill that gap with soulful, long-lasting, personalized jewelry at fair prices. HART’s goal is to be the leader in jewelry in the advanced contemporary fashion category. What Jenni Kayne does for cashmere cardigans, Janessa Leone does for hats, or Clare V does for handbags, we hope to accomplish in fashion jewelry. 
rms x hart lip2cheek locket

RMS: Clean beauty, clean design—it’s all about intention. How does sustainability  and your values show up in the way you make your jewelry?

HH: I believe that every object emanates an energy. You can feel it when something was made with good intention and has good vibes - that is luxury for me. When our customers choose to spend their hard-earned money on our jewelry to honor their stories, their values, their families, I feel the responsibility to make pieces that will last. Therefore I take quality manufacturing very seriously. My team and I recently traveled to our factories in India and Thailand to meet the makers behind our jewelry. It’s important to me that our jewelry is made in responsible ways, by people who are treated well, using methods that reduce the environmental impact as much as possible. 

RMS: Between launching a brand, raising two kids, painting, sailing, and doing it all with great earrings on… how do you stay grounded & what advice would you give to another entrepreneur?

HH: Honestly I’m still working on this. It is not easy. I envision this journey of life as a long hike with high peaks and dark valleys. Most days I wake up feeling very grounded, at peace and very thankful for everything that I have, what I’ve accomplished and the health and safety of my family. But that’s not to say there are not days where I enter a dark valley and I can be an anxious mess and very stressed out about balancing everything, the comparison game, etc. I think the key is to be gentle with yourself, lead every day with gratitude and integrity, and keep moving. And to remember what is truly important, after all. It’s easy to get caught up in bullshit and lose sight of the basics. Also, deleting social media for 48 hours helps!

RMS: OK, now for the good stuff—tell us about the Lip2Cheek locket & the shade Beloved. I, of course, love it, but tell us what you love about it.

HH: A red lip is my must-have on-the-go makeup item. It’s astounding to me how a little smudge of red will instantly polish my look, brighten my skin tone, and wake me up. I love Lip2Cheek because I prefer a casual, smudged look. The formula makes it easy to apply and intensify the color as needed. After my lips, I dab the leftover pigment into my cheeks, giving me the perfect flush. Needless to say I’m thrilled that I can now carry Beloved in our chic locket. Together with the Lip2Cheek, this power duo will be the finishing touch to the casual jeans and tees I live in. 

rms x hart lip2cheek locket


RMS: I love that you’re not afraid to mix the mystical with the modern. Why do you choose to add intentions to many of your pieces? Tell me more about the decision to choose Carpe Diem to go with the Lip2Cheek Locket, and what seizing the day looks like for you.

HH: It’s not enough to make a shiny, pretty thing. I am obsessed with going deeper. To provide an extra layer of meaning in everything we create. That’s why I love to inscribe our pendants with mantras and phrases. “Carpe Diem” felt like a natural choice for the locket. It’s all about helping the wearer tap into that ‘seize every moment’ mindset throughout different parts of the day - before a meeting, a date, or even a dog walk. 

RMS: Be honest—what’s it like when you see someone wearing HART out in the wild? What’s the wildest or most moving moment that’s happened?

HH: Seeing someone wear my jewelry in the wild never gets old. First, it’s very humbling. I am always so appreciative when someone believes in the brand and what we’re building and spending their money on it. It inspires me to keep growing the brand with integrity and keep evolving so we can continually offer our community innovative new designs. I don’t have any wild stories. But, people are starting to recognize me at Whole Foods or at the airport, which I’m still wrapping my head around. 

RMS: Last one—what’s your own daily ritual for getting into the right headspace before you head out the door? Lip color and all.

HH: Once my girls are out the door on their way to school, I usually go outside to poke around in my garden while I finish my cup of coffee (with full fat heavy cream, always). Next I’ll take my dogs for a walk, do an at-home pilates workout, and then get dressed for the day. Lots of skincare, minimal makeup. I typically have a pot of Beloved Lip2Cheek or the Luminizer X Quad in my car, which I dab on before I walk into the office. But now I can just slip on my locket! Lucky me!

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