Peer Portraits: Alice and Ed from Alice Made This
Alice and Ed from Alice Made This create precision designed jewelry. They work with engineers and artisans to layer the precision of engineering with the beauty of hand work, creating unique accessories and jewelry. Every element of their process is considered to create timeless and beautiful products, with stories of past, present and future. They explore interesting techniques and materials from all sorts of industries to offer pieces with individuality.
We first met the couple as fellow exhibitors at Pitti Uomo in Florence a few years back. Watching them juggle parent life while building a thriving business has been inspiring. Enjoy learning more about two genuinely good people and catch a few of their family photos below!
We’d love to know more about your background, upbringing and the road that brought you to where you are now, personally and professionally.
Alice grew up with a father in the military, which meant lots of travel and moving. Her family had a creative background though, including dressmakers, artists and shop owners. Alice’s background is product and furniture design. She started working for Tom Dixon when there were less than 10 people in the company until there were over 40+. Alice had always wanted to run her own business and in 2012 took the plunge. In 2014, after working two jobs and working past midnight every night, we decided that she needed some support and that’s when I came on board to help with the business side of things.
What is something you believe everyone should experience in their life?
Travel and other cultures. Although not possible at the moment, we both throughly believe that experiencing and understanding different cultures are some of the best forms of education. It helps generate a compassion and understanding of others outside of your bubble and reminds you how amazing this world, and the people who live in it, are.
What was your favorite moment today and do you have any favorite grounding rituals?
Saying good morning to our three kids. The pandemic has reminded me that it is about health above wealth and I’m just happy to see their smiling faces every morning! Exercise is key to both Alice and I for our mental health. It is so easy to let it slip and just carry on working. We’ve added exercise to our shared diary so that we make sure it happens. It tends to be a mixture of Yoga, body balance, running, gym work and stretching. It is so important to get that mental head space from working out and just remember to breathe!
Work from home essentials? How are you adapting to this new reality?
Our studio is based in our back garden in London, so there wasn’t much adapting that needed doing luckily! We’ve been having to home school two of our kids, which was very intense at the beginning whilst we all got used to the new routine. But I would say a pair of noise cancelling headphones are probably a good idea!
Any advice you can give to young creatives in and out of the current context of the virus.
Failure is not something to be afraid of. You learn your best lessons through failure and you can always find a solution. Treat people how you wish to be treated. It is by far the best piece of advice that has been handed on from my parents.
With three children, can you speak to finding a balance between entrepreneurship and family life?
It is a difficult balance to find and we still find that. The kids need attention but it is also a great way to switch off from work. Would we be more risky if we were in our mid 20’s with no kids? 100% we would as there would have been less to lose, but I also think it has made our approach to Alice Made This a lot more organic, considered and sustainable.
Can you tell us about some of your favorite spots in London?
Waterloo Bridge (the views)
The National Theatre
Peckham Bazaar - best restaurant in Peckham!
The Beer Shop, Nunhead
Natural History Museum
The White Cube Gallery, Bermondsey Street
Mint (gallery)
St James Park
Peckham Rye
Photography by Genevieve Chapman & Together Journal