My name is Justas Lu, and I‘m the founder of Hardmades. Hardmades is not a company, but rather a one-man-army dedicated to creating the things that last.

Hardmades brand was born as a wake-up call to the mass production & throw away culture. Aren’t you sick and tired of badly made products? I am. And yet, most consumer goods are built to break. It’s a waste of resources, money and time. It’s called ‘planned obsolescence’. Therefore, Hardmades is here to fight it.

Hardmades mission is to create handcrafted pieces that will be passed on from generation to generation. Home décor and lifestyle accessories of timeless quality and functionality that will outlast you, your children, and perhaps your grandchildren. It will collect the moments of your life.

My Story

Being a child I loved working with my grandfather at his tiny garage shop. I wanted to create things ever since. To do something that would let me use my hands. But instead of following my passion, I chose what is considered to be ‘practical’ and ‘safe’. I was holding Master of Science degree in International Business and pursuing a successful career in a well-known multinational corporation. But I wasn’t really happy: I was not where I was meant to be.

One day I quitted my job and gave myself a shot. I decided to set up a studio of handmade products, which are completely different from the mass production. Something unique, yet simple and natural. Something you can’t find on the market, authentic, bespoke.

I've spent thousands of hours working with concrete design mix, possible shapes, colors, and structures. Again and again, discovering new variations and pushing the boundaries of materials to transform cement, water, sand and aggregate mix into design pieces that are as beautiful and sophisticated as they are functional and long-lasting.

People ask me why I chose concrete. I didn’t, concrete chose me. Concrete is used more than any other man-made material on the planet. Yet, it is still highly underrated. It can be much more than just a heavy grey mass. It can be a beautiful and timeless art that gets stronger and better over time, just like wine.

I pour my heart into every piece I make. At Harmades every piece is created, not produced, so be aware - concrete is imperfect, it might have flaws, tiny bug holes, and subtle voids. You will never find two exact pieces as it has slight variations in color and texture. And that’s the beauty of it.

If you are a designer, producing company or a person not lacking imagination – share your ideas for custom-made pieces, I would love to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Justas Lu