Factory girl: art meets industry at Alice Made This
Alice Walsh’s studio is set in the unassuming confines of her Peckham back garden. It's where the ideas for her minimalist accessories line, Alice Made This take shape: ‘The studio was built by an artist who lived in the house before us,’ explains the 36-year-old, who works with a small team that includes her husband, Ed Walsh, who is also company director. ‘There’s an entire wall full of windows and another full of shelves – it’s big, light and very organised.’ The no-frills functionality of the space reflects the restrained aesthetic of a brand whose mission it is to revisit the best aspects of traditional British industry.
‘I love a factory,’ says Walsh, whose previous design roles at Tom Dixon and Conran saw her acquainted with factory floors across the world. Dixon, she says, instilled in her the value of knowing the process behind producing something before designing it. ‘People assume that if something is manufactured, it’s made quickly and easily,’ continues Walsh. ‘But the history of the industrial revolution is innovation. I want to tell the stories behind manufacturing that make you understand it’s not a cheap process – it’s skilled and historic.’
Alice Made This began in 2011 with a line of pared-back men’s pieces made in brass, steel and rhodium (materials that Walsh terms ‘the unsung heroes of industry’). The collection included cufflinks in engineered ceramic and lapel pins handwoven in marine chord by specialist rope makers. This cherry picking of industrial skills, which Walsh sees as ‘refining industry’, has now been applied to a new collection of pendant necklaces for women. Zips, rods and barrels are rendered in rose gold and silver in geometric forms. They look like precious machine parts – and in a way, they are: ‘The women’s collection involves an aerospace process at a factory that is usually used for parts for the insides of machines,’ says Walsh, who plans to extend the women's offering to include earrings and bracelets. ‘We’re simply taking that process and illustrating its beauty.’
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Alice Made This website
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
-
Alessandro Michele is Valentino’s new creative director
Former Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele is named the successor to Pierpaolo Piccioli at the Roman house
By Jack Moss Published
-
New Byredo store opens in London’s Covent Garden
Byredo has unveiled a new Covent Garden store, its second bricks-and-mortar destination in London
By Hannah Tindle Published
-
Alternative Easter eggs: chocolate-free but cracking gifts and indulgences
The humble egg, Easter's favourite ingredient, celebrated in five alternative forms, from a picnic cutlery canteen to a fabulous foamy dessert
By Caragh McKay Published
-
Jewellery designers share their most precious personal pieces
A host of jewellers give us a peek at the jewellery which brings them joy and solace
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Playing it cool: pearls are having a moment
We've been deep-diving into boutiques around the world to find the very best calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form. It seems jewellers have been busy rethinking pearls, with contemporary (and often affordable) results
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Eternity rings for the modern couple
Eternity rings, whether sleekly minimalist or sprinkled in diamonds, can be a chic and contemporary love token
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Alternative engagement rings with an edge
As the sales of engagement rings sky-rocket during lockdown, enjoy our off-kilter curation of edgy and unconventional engagement rings
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Hair jewellery to covet and collect
Today’s hair jewellery is both practical and pretty. We're pinning our hopes on these simple and elegant accessories
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
CryptoPunks come to life on Tiffany & Co pendants
Tiffany & Co has partnered with blockchain infrastructure company Chain to create custom pendants and NFTiffs
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Andreas Kronthaler’s costume jewellery for Vivienne Westwood is fun, flirty and fabulous
Andreas Kronthaler’s new jewellery draws on romantic and theatrical motifs
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Fope’s flexible gold chains rethink a classic design
Elasticity meets elegance in Fope’s new jewellery collection, ‘Luna’
By Hannah Silver Last updated