totem
Fine jewelry label alef has kept the business within the family since its inception. Ege Yuksek is the daughter of jewelry artist Yesim Yuksek, the original founder of alef. Proud of her mother’s achievements, Architect Ege Yuksek has joined the team and is now the new generation designer for the house. Surrounded at a very early by her family’s experience and passion for creating artistic fine jewelry pieces, Ege has developed an unconditional love for design and architecture.
She studied architecture at Politecnico di Milano, Facoltà di Architettura e Società. During her studies, Ege gradually entered the world of alef. In 2011 at the age of 22, Ege was appointed Artistic Director of alef. Rooted in heritage but with an aim to make the brand current to the millennial audience, Ege has elevated its design language to appeal to audiences of all ages. One of their most iconic designs, mix-match & multi-use pieces (which turns 15 this year) comes in varying usages — in different shapes & colors & sizes, for people of different tastes & generations.
The new collaborative collection totem is simple, complex and timeless. It’s one of those sacred objects that you want to belong to your family that will really stay with you for all your life, like an emblem of a clan. An investment piece in today’s world, jewelry is the perfect thing to share in the family — an heirloom to be passed down through generations.
Their references come from their passion for contemporary art and the effects of metal within modern sculpture and architecture. They take inspiration from the works of Alexander Calder and the details of Carlo Scarpa, as well as the Brutalist, Minimalist and Bauhaus movements and De Stijl artists. Blending and pushing the boundaries between craftsmanship and architecture mixing with traditional fine jewelry techniques, their designs are characterized by modern, minimalist designs and the innovative use of pieces.
