Alkemie Jewelry: Reduce, Reuse, REDESIGN

Posted by Melanie Bender on January 22 at 1:53 PM Distribution at 500 of the world’s top boutiques and accolades from Vogue and Elle - most designers wouldn’t give that up for the world.  So why after 8 years of building her eponymous line did Dara Gerson walk away from it?  As Gerson puts it, she lost her mojo.  Years in the jewelry industry had made her weary of the toxic working conditions and environmental impacts of the gem and fine metal industries, and Gerson knew it wasn’t something she could continue to support.  That was when her and husband Ashley Lowengrub conceived Alkemie (one of six DMD Lab finalists) - a contemporary jewelry line using exclusively reclaimed metals, making them arguably the most green in the business.  Yet that’s often not the main selling point, as Alkemie’s edgy-come-feminine take and uber-reasonable prices have earned them a devoted following based on aesthetic alone.  We sat down with the family of four at their Topanga Canyon abode – think Swiss Family Robinson tree house-meets-Alice in Wonderland – and came away awed and charmed… and wanting more!

DMD: What made you want to be a designer?
Dara Gerson: Ever since childhood, I have always loved the process of handcrafting designs – and fortunately for me, it evolved into a career.  The satisfaction and true pleasure I feel from creating unique pieces and seeing the impact it has on our clients has continued to really fuel my creative energy as a designer.
Ashley Lowengrub: I was lucky enough to be raised by an extremely talented mother [renown Israeli artist Ilana Goor]. Her talents have spanned the realms of sculpture, furniture, lighting, clothing and jewelry design, and the Tel Aviv Museum just recently had a twenty-year retrospective in her honor. Growing up with her unique artistic point of view inspired me to design and create, as well.

DMD: What's your design philosophy and how did you get to it?
DG: We are both really drawn to the past. We have great respect and admiration for particular time periods and cultures that encompass a unique blend of quality, design and innovative use of materials.

DMD: For you, when does inspiration strike?
AL: Inspiration can arrive at any given moment!

DMD: Why ‘Alkemie’? What was your second choice?
AL: ‘Alchemy’ is the practice of transforming something common into something precious.  We loved the name Alkemie because we felt it perfectly embodied our design credo.

DMD: All of your pieces use reclaimed metals, what’s the sourcing process like?
AL: We use 100% reclaimed metals for all of our pieces, and some of our pendants are even created from recycled bullet casings. Through a lot of research and networking we were able to find an amazing supplier who salvages all of his materials from scrap yards, and we work with him on all of our metal pieces. For our leather pieces, we source exclusively from cattle ranches that use 100% of the animal to reduce waste and make it a more sustainable product.

DMD: Wow, that sounds like a lot of work!
DG: It is, but it’s something we believe in really strongly.  Before Alkemie, we each had jewelry collections that were doing really well.  But as we learned more about the gem and fine metal mining trade – that it’s one of the most dangerous and polluting there is – we knew that it wasn’t something that we could continue to support, which is whey we launched Alkemie.  Transforming something that already exists into something new is one of the most environmentally-wise methods of designing, and something that so few contemporary designers are doing.

DMD: If you weren't a designer, what else would you want to do?
AL: I would love to be an architect.
DG: I think I’d be a teacher.

DMD: What did your mother want you to be?
AL: I think what any Jewish mother wants, a doctor!

DMD: Any regrets yet?
DG: No regrets, only life's lessons.

DMD: Are there any designers in particular that you love?
AL: I really love Carol Christian Poell and East West Musical Instruments Company.
DG: I’m a big fan of Rick Owens, Stella McCartney, and Undercover.

DMD: Is there a celebrity/icon - past or present - that you'd love to dress?
AL: I would have to say Stanley Kubrick, only so that after the fitting I could discuss his philosophy on films.
DG: I think it would be a lot of fun to dress Bob Dylan!


Topics: design, fashion, green, philanthropy        SHARE: