"Passion & Luxury" with Alexandra Mor

We are pleased to bring you this “Passion & Luxury” profile of one of our most favorite fine jewelry designers, Alexandra Mor, Alexandra Mor Haute-Couture Fine Jewelry, whose passion for fine and haute jewelry inspires us in how she expresses herself with gemstones, the spirit behind what drives her work and her passion for activism in the jewelry industry. She transforms raw materials into works of great beauty, heirloom worthy and exquisite, with her signature style, masterfully created into timeless statement and one-of-a kind pieces with great attention to detail, that reflect the beauty and personality of the wearer. With fine craftsmanship she transforms gemstones and metal into a wearable piece of art with captivating character and inimitable beauty.

Alexandra Mor, The Girl with the Tagua Earring, Kevin Hatt. Photo courtesy of Alexandra Mor

Introducing Alexandra Mor

I can of course start with the obvious—what I’m probably expected to say. I’m a luxury Jewelry Designer and the Founder of Alexandra Mor Haute-Couture Fine Jewelry, which offers bespoke, limited-edition and one of a kind fine jewelry. But that is the wrapping. I am first and foremost a woman, a mother, a girlfriend, and a human being. I also happen to be a designer, and I’m using my creative gift to empower others to discover their own unique light. Some of the ways I do that is through designing custom pieces for jewelry collectors, teaching meditation, or helping other leaders to discover a new way to be in the world. I wish to inspire others to step into their higher-selves and true gifts, sharing the different skills I’ve learned in life and help them make their dreams a reality.

I consider myself an activist. What activism has to do with creativity? In creativity, which I believe all of us have, there is passion, courage, and dedication. Creativity is inherent in all of us, but like anything else in life, it stems from a relationship with oneself. As such, it requires constant work that is interconnected and affects every area of our live

Embedding creativity into my role as an activist allows me to stand up for what I believe in no matter what anyone else says. It gives me the confidence, courage, and tenacity needed to get noticed and lend a voice to the causes I value. I am an advocate for things like mutual respect and social justice, along with gender, racial, and religious equality. I stand for people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and practice kindness and fairness in my personal and professional life.

For example, my work has a special focus on sustainability and mindful design, using conflict-free gems and other ethically-sourced materials. That is also how I started my relationship with Vogue Italia, and I have been serving as the Creative Director for the Protagonist Haute Couture Annual Sustainable Jewelry Exhibit since 2017, bringing socially conscious artists, brands, and collectors together. Vogue Italia brought me into this role to rethink the event’s purpose and transform it into the fist haute-couture fine jewelry exhibit focused on sustainability and mindful practices. The event curated a selected group of committed fine jewelry brands and other relevant partnerships.

In order to understand the moving parts of sustainability as a whole and its effect on consumers and business, I am attending a Master’s program at the New York location of Glasgow Caledonian New York College for the Common Good. The program is focused on impact investing and sustainability. Sustainability is a multi-faceted universe, like a diamond, and in order for me to lead, it is important to be versed in politics, finance, and regulations as well as the environmental implications of our industry. As my purpose is to give back and do good in the world, I transformed my business into a socially conscious practice. I plan to change how we do business with the help of others who share my vision.

Tell us about your background and about the path that sparked your passion for creation and brought your luxury business to life.

I grew up in Israel, where my French couturier mother and aunt introduced me to couture dressmaking at a young age. My grandfather and my grandmother came from a family of tailors, from the cities of Lodz and Warsaw in Poland. Couture runs in our family’s DNA. I’ve always been drawn to creative pursuits, and I initially pursued a career as a filmmaker. However, in 2004, when I was four months pregnant with my oldest son Adam, I found my true calling in a jewelry bench class.

I spent several years expanding my knowledge and honing my craft. In December of 2010, I launched my first collection at Phillips de Pury & Company (today’s Philips) in New York City. In 2013, shortly after winning the FGI `Fine Jewelry Rising Star Award’, I began collaborating with Gemfields, creating ethically sourced jewelry from emeralds. I also opened my own branded salon in a store in Boston and joined Bergdorf Goodman’s Fine Jewelry Selected group of Jewelers in their newly renovated 5th Avenue store. Since my work was covered in top magazines, and red carpet by celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Kate Winslet, Naomi Campbell , Brooke Shields, Demi Moore, and Beyoncé wore our jewelry. It was an exciting time, and my rise felt meteoric.

Over the years, I continued to work with sustainable gems, making my mark in the industry as a designer who believes there is no reason to compromise between sustainability and luxury.

In fact, I contend that luxury and sustainability naturally complement one another. People hold different ideas of what sustainability means, but I am happy to see that people are gaining a more educated grasp of the topic—that it’s not just a way of recycling your garbage. Sustainability is way more than that. It’s a way of being that starts with the individual and ripples into everything he or she does. And so for many, it may run counter to conventional wisdom, but both sustainability and luxury arise from mindful caring and intentional practice. Bespoke and couture work, for example, has been valued throughout the ages because of the personal and direct attention to detail artisans put into each piece.

“When fused with a mission to make the world a better place, sustainable design can become a meditation in its own right. It invites us to contemplate the true ‘value’ of an object in an entirely new way.” ~ Alexandra Mor

Passion has ebb and flow. What keeps your creative forces and passions alive?

It really depends how you define passion and the incentive behind it. I don’t necessarily see passion as something that changes or is affected by external events. However, in my experience, it does grow and change form as your mindset evolves. It can become clearer or fade away and transform into something else

I first realized I’m here to channel my creativity toward a higher purpose when I became interested in meditation and a more mindful living. I realized that jewelry design alone couldn’t challenge my soul to grow. I felt the longing to elevate my efforts, shifting my own business to guide others toward conscious consumption. But when I first had this realization, I simply didn’t know where to begin

That is when I made the radical decision to uproot my life, moving myself and my family to the island of Bali. A famed destination for entrepreneurs and sustainable leaders around the world, Bali’s calming atmosphere and rich culture of spirituality was the perfect place for an inward journey, so I arrived with an open mind and let my intuition guide me.

That journey influenced my business, my life, and my relationships. It was the only way for me to continue in the industry and keep my design business. The passion I have stems not only from the beautiful diamonds and the gemstones I work with. It arises from sharing my true calling with others. That passion just happens to start with jewelry.

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW ON EATLOVESAVOR.COM

Thank you to Alexandra Mor for allowing us this intimate look at the woman, her work and passions.

EAT LOVE SAVOR’S special campaign is entitled “PASSION & LUXURY”. This campaign features select people in luxury and their passions. We are highlighting true luxury brands, ateliers and maisons small through large. The campaign consists of publishing online and to social media the portraits of passionate people in luxury – the creators, designers and founders who inspire others with their passions in life not just in business. Without passion, there is no luxury. Passionate creators are a source of inspiration, fueling the luxury industry and preserving its skills and essence, whose passionate energy is infectious and drives their creations and pursuit of excellence.