Interview with Hart Hagerty, Founder of Hart Jewelry

Meet Hart Hagerty, the native Charlestonian behind her namesake brand, Hart Jewelry. After honing her skills first in Shanghai and then in New York City, Hart started her brand in 2016, noticing a gap in the market for quality, soulful jewelry at an attainable price point. Now in 2022, she is a mom to two little girls (both born during Covid!) and at the helm of a quickly-growing business. 

Read on to learn more about Hart's journey to being a small business owner in her hometown of Charleston. She speaks to why she won't be taking her girls to Disney World anytime soon, the inspiration behind the timeless talismans she has come to be known for, and just how she'll be styling her Pamela Munson clutch from spring through fall.

Tell us about your brand, Hart Jewelry, and career trajectory. 

I started my jewelry line in 2016, after a 6-year career in fashion journalism / trend forecasting in Shanghai, China. I lived in NYC after Shanghai, honing my skills in branding and advertising. I launched my line when I noticed a market opportunity for quality, soulful fashion jewelry at an attainable price point. Our business is doubling year over year. I believe our growth is attributed to an obsession with quality and customer service, authentic brand story-telling, and an instinct for balancing timeless style with fun, new trends. 

What inspires you?  Many of Pam’s designs are inspired by childhood travel memories and time with her family, do you have a go-to source of inspiration?

Inspiration comes in many forms. One form is prose / language. I’ll read a quote from ancient poetry, and a charm idea flashes in my mind. I love creating talismans that help the wearer achieve an intention, or remind them to stay true to their most authentic self. One example… the Rumi quote, “The wound is where the light shines in” inspired our Cracked Heart charm, which many customers have purchased to help them get through loss or hard times. 

Do you have any treasured travel memories with your family? Or destinations you keep going back to? Where do you go and what was your favorite memory?

My husband and I rented a villa with friends in the hilly wine country in Provence, France. For a week, our only goal was to relax. We removed any pressure of being adventurous tourists. Instead, we spent our days living like the French do in the summertime. Taking long walks, enjoying beautiful fresh food and wine, laughing over meandering conversations with friends, painting and reading by the pool. It was heaven.

Can you share with us one of your family travel traditions?  What puts you at ease and ready to relax?

One family tradition is investing in trips that take my daughters to vulnerable landscapes which will likely not survive in decades to come. My parents took my four siblings to gems like the Galapagos, Amazon, and Masai Mara in Kenya, where we learned about the importance of protecting the earth’s ecosystem. My dad says, “Disney world will always be there. The jungle will not.” 

We have to ask: what’s in your bag?  Tell us about your everyday essentials in your Pamela Munson bag. 

I have the lovely clutch, which I’ve already toted to springtime piazza and garden soirees in Charleston. I always carry one or two Laura Mercier lipsticks (Coral VIF is my desert island product!) to a fete! 

You are one of our favorite people to follow and we love how you stay so true to your cool-girl style. How has your style changed since becoming a mother? 

Well that’s very nice, thank you. I had two babies during Covid, so – now my littles are more manageable and we can safely go out socializing again – my style mantra is all about having fun and embracing some sexiness! I’m committed to not being a dowdy mom, haha. I’m gravitating toward short, colorful dresses (no more boho maxis with golden goose, please) and form-fitting bodysuits with sultry cut-outs.  I’ve learned to appreciate my body and celebrate it. Life is short. Have fun with your fashion (and jewelry!). 

You have impeccable taste! What is your favorite style from our Spring '22 Collection?

I love my clutch. It’s feminine, timeless and functional. I am super impressed by the quality, too. It will be in my closet until my daughters will fight over it.  

Straw isn’t solely reserved for summer or beach getaways – how will you be styling your Pamela Munson handbag in the colder seasons?

Channeling that Jane Birkin moment – she was photographed carrying her basket bag with a fur coat. I have similar caramel-hued vintage fur that I plan to wear with my Munson! You’ll see me this fall in some faded Levis, loafers, a basic tee, my fur coat and the clutch. 

If you could take your new Pamela Munson handbag anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

Tangier is at the top of my bucket list. I have dreams of spending a couple of months there and getting to know the creative global citizens who call Tangier their spiritual home. I imagine throwing on an intricately embroidered robe and sporting my clutch to a fabulous rooftop dinner party. A girl can dream!