After years of friendship through their alma mater, Jennie Engelhardt and Emily Harrison created fashion line Hare+Hart in the fall of 2009. Today, Hare+Hart has grown into a collection of ethically conscious leather accessories and jackets and has received attention from names like Vogue.com and Who What Wear.
Jennie, a native of St. Paul, majored in American Studies at Carleton College. During her senior year, she studied abroad in Argentina and discovered a deep appreciation for the locals' cattle raising practices in free-roaming and grass-fed environments. Not only do cows and goats lead vastly improved lives due to humane conditions, but the leather industry is known to be one of the best in the world due to the cage-free lifestyle that prevents leather from marring. Jennie's been driven ever since to bring the same social responsibility to the States and find a way to incorporate it into everyday fashion.
Emily, a San Francisco native raised in the wine industry, followed her passion for the industry to the rich wine country of Argentina. After completing a Spanish degree at Carleton College, Emily moved indefinitely to Argentina to apply her background to a full-time career in the wine business. While there, she became acquainted with the local leather makers and her love of fashion sparked the pursuit of both passions.
Not being able to stay away from Argentina and her dear friend, one of Jennie’s visits back to the country inspired her and Emily to create a line by merging the craftsmanship of traditional Argentine leather goods with contemporary style. The duo's Spring 2012 collection marks their first signature collection of vegetable-tanned, cow hair handbags. The brand continuously evolves with each season and every collection offers more statement pieces for socially aware fashion lovers to choose from. Thanks to Hare+Hart, the women say, consumers no longer have to sacrifice the environment for style. The decision to shop consciously becomes easier than ever.