A combination of perfectionism, creativity, determination - and an adventurous streak - have all helped Alice Herald build a career and life that she loves.

Her gusto has taken her all over the world, but she has landed in Wanaka, where she lives, works and plays.

Alice’s eponymous bespoke jewellery brand is a culmination of many years spent honing her craft, and from her base in Wanaka she manages suppliers and liaises with clients all over the world.

She’s also a wife and a mum to two young children; she skis, runs, plays tennis and gets into nature whenever she gets the chance.

If her life sounds busy, that’s because it is, but Alice, ever-positive, has no complaints. “It’s the same as every family out there: It’s a juggle, but it’s a wicked juggle.”

Alice first discovered her love of jewellery design during her gap year in Mexico, where she studied sculpture and jewellery. Her parents, however, weren’t so pleased with Alice’s pronouncement that she planned to pursue it as a career. 

“I come from a very traditional family,” Alice said. “A career in the arts wasn’t seen as something that was possible.”

Alice went on to study jewellery design and earn a B.A (Hons) at the renowned Central Saint Martin in London. Her parents quickly became “my biggest champions and supporters”.

Her university experience (where she worked with some of the very best, and standards were extremely high) helped hone Alice’s perfectionism and dedication to her work.

“During my degree I worked with a company of goldsmiths and silversmiths holding royal warrants [a mark of excellence for those who have regularly supplied goods or services to members of the royal family] for several years and developed very high expectations in terms of quality and drive.”

Her work was never of the commercial style, she says. “As you grow, you find yourself and gain the confidence to express yourself. If you are true to yourself and your personal style, you create a signature style and uniqueness within your work.”

A need for some time out after five busy years in London gave Alice the chance to pursue her second love, sport, and she met her now-husband while skiing in Austria. The other half of this entrepreneurial duo, Jon, is the owner of Black Peak Gelato in central Wanaka.

The pair moved to New Zealand together in 2004 so Jon could take a ski patrol course. Initially, there were no plans to stay long term.

“We went back to Europe for a season but missed it here too much.”

The pair got married, had children, bought land, and built a beautiful home, which Alice says they won’t leave until they’re wheeled out, grey and old.

Alice co-founded an online engagement ring company and managed it jointly for 8.5 years until she launched her label Alice Herald in late 2016. While there were some nerves, Alice knew she wanted to create a brand that was truly her own. “If I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it really well. I’ve got some pretty wild aspirations and some totally audacious goals, but I've ticked a few off already so I’m aiming high.”

Just a few short years on, Alice has a burgeoning company known for its personalisation, impeccable quality and attention to detail. Her bespoke pieces, which make up the majority of Alice’s work, are refined again and again with the client until each piece tells the story of its owner and how it came to be.

“I love creating heritage pieces,” Alice said. “I want the pieces to speak of the lives of my clients and to make heirlooms that can be passed down.”

Even though her jeweller, diamond and gem suppliers, CAD contractors (who make her traditional 2D sketched designs into 3D), foundry and many clients are overseas, working from Wanaka is “not a problem”, and Alice can pick up and work from wherever she happens to be. “There’s FaceTime, there’s Skype - you can still make it a really personal experience with clients.”

Trips to Auckland every two months to see clients and attend events give Alice the “cultural hit” she loves, but living in Wanaka feels right - “I’m definitely a country girl at heart”.

“I love going to the city, seeing the art and architecture, but I need the air and space to breathe and create.”

Having grown up in the countryside in England, Alice now gets to see her own children enjoy the same type of rural childhood she had. A “big skiing family”, the four spend lots of time outdoors and in the mountains. The lifestyle is an ideal mix, Alice said.

“You can have a couple of hours skiing, come home and work on some designs and be there to pick up the kids from school. Pretty special really.”

Find Alice Herald here.

PHOTO: Supplied