Jewelry Designer, Alice Waese
Introduce yourself. How did you get started? What’s your story?
I am an artist and designer based in New York. I studied creative writing in Montreal, fashion design in Toronto, and sculpture & textiles in London. After fashion school - and before relocating to London - I worked as a design assistant to Maria Cornejo for four years. In London, after studying fine art at Goldsmiths, I began to put my skills together to create jewels; to me, what felt like small wearable sculptures. I never received training as a jeweler. I am self-taught and I continue to learn to this day. I really believe that coming at something with naivety allows for creativity to take hold. When you don’t know the rules, you are not limited by boundaries.
Do you ever get personally attached to your work? Is it sometimes difficult to sell pieces that are meaningful to you?
I have made a lot of pieces that I cannot part with. I will always re-make a piece for a client, but the originals are often very dear to me, especially stones, as each one is unique and often marks a personal moment in time or the beginning of a new creative direction.
How did you grow into your style?
I think that, across all the mediums I have worked in, I have always told the same story. Whether through painting, drawing, clothing, textiles or jewels, I am using different methods to say the same thing. My style has evolved, the materials have become finer, more precious, or, perhaps, the aesthetic more elegant; I have smoothed the edges out a little. I think it is just a natural progression, based in experimentation and growth. Each piece inspires the last and pushes it a little deeper.
Who are your fashion inspirations?
Louise Bourgeois, Edward Scissorhands, “The Color of Pomegranates” film, Patti Smith, and Georgia O’Keefe.
What advice would you give to women who are interested in making and selling accessories?
For any creative process, you need to follow your instincts. Start by going internal, not external. □
