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Carina Hardy (@cccaaarrrhhh) wants to free the nipple –– with jewelry.
“Everything I see, think and create is about the breast. I am obsessed,” says the 23year old designer, “it started with the nipple: the pinnacle of the physical and metaphorical breasts, the epicenter of sensitivity, intrigue and stigma.” This tension made Carina want to challenge nipple censorship.

“I was inspired to make jewelry that both adorns the breasts and armors against the patriarchal gaze by calling attention to a part of the body which is otherwise covered and obscured.”

The jewelry she designs for her brand Elppin (‘nipple’ spelled backwards) is deliberately provocative. “It is a direct challenge to the notion and practice that breasts should be veiled from the public eye.”

Follow @cccaaarrrhhh’s story this week.

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Follow Bali-based designer @cccaaarrrhhh’s story this week.

“By the time I was 19 years old, I’d assisted and been a doula at 11 live births. These experiences shaped how I relate to and understand women, mothers, childbirth and the connection to breasts as a natural life source.”

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Follow Bali-based designer @cccaaarrrhhh’s story this week.

“My design professors [at Goldsmiths college in London] pushed me to translate my breast obsessed art project into a design object, and so the nipple brooch was born. I ended up turning elppin into my senior thesis project.”

“I work with master jewelers in Bali. We cut, hammer and solder every element in our home workshops.”

“We don’t use any uniform molds. We make each piece by hand from start to finish because it’s essential for nipple brooches to reflect our unique individuality.“

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Follow Bali-based designer @cccaaarrrhhh’s story this week.

“I was raised in New York City and Bali by creative parents who had a jewelry business. I speak Indonesian and Balinese. “

“I love to start the day with a hike down into the river valley and across the rice fields. I ride my rainbow scooter to lunch at a little local warung for my favorite food: nasi campur, which is rice and spiced chicken, coconut with veggies. Like everyone else, I’m a work in progress. I care deeply about women and the environment. I am obsessed with beauty and empowerment.”

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Carina plans to continue to open the conversation around breasts. “I am motivated by creation and collaboration, and by the things that bring people closer together,” says the designer. Proceeds from her jewelry sales are donated to the Planned Parenthood non-profit organization and the natural birth clinic she volunteers at in Bali.

“I’m committed to taking Elppin as far into the world as possible,” she says. “It’s about damn time to free the nipple.”

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“My design professors [at Goldsmiths college in London] pushed me to translate my breast obsessed art project into a design object, and so the nipple brooch was born. I ended up turning elppin into my senior thesis project.”

“I work with master jewelers in Bali. We cut, hammer and solder every element in our home workshops.”

“We don’t use any uniform molds. We make each piece by hand from start to finish because it’s essential for nipple brooches to reflect our unique individuality.“

Follow @cccaaarrrhhh’s story this week.