Designer Philosophy
 
"I want to create beautiful pieces that are both versatile and sophisticated. I believe that all women should be able to afford fine jewelry…that jewelry can be simple, but still make a statement, I believe that gemstones have no season…citrine, garnet, blue topaz, moonstone…a woman can wear them year-round and they are always beautiful".

Portrait of a Designer

A combination of intellectual curiosity, ethnic influences and cultural sophistication all meld together to form the collections of designer Dahli Patel, creator of Aleksa Designs."

I have always loved jewelry and from a very young age jewelry was always my favorite accessory". As she grew older, Dahli continued to define her own sense of style and became a keen observer of the style of other women across the globe. Her love of jewelry though, didn't initially drive her into the world of design; instead she received a degree in psychology and worked for over 5 years in the social services field. It wasn't until years later, after stopping her career to raise her two children, that she finally had time to devote herself to studying jewelry design. It was then that she became truly fascinated with gemstones. "I learned how they are mined, how they are cut and polished and watched the long, tedious process that it takes to create each stone. On her travels she learned how the gemstones were set and made into jewelry," she explains. While on a trip to the far-east, she worked with a jewelry artisan who created a beautiful piece of jewelry under Dahli’s design direction. "Eventually I started stringing beads and making jewelry for myself and my friends."

While shopping in a major department store and wearing a necklace of her own design, a sales associate asked her about her it. After Dahli explained that she had made the necklace, the woman asked if it was for sale, explaining she would like to purchase it as well as two more. This became the first day in business for Aleska Designs, and the day that she began a relationship with that department store that continues to this day. The name “Aleksa”, a homage to her children, came from combining the letters of their first names, Alek and Alyssa.

The Collection

Vibrant colors mix with intricate details, while simple, strong shapes blend effortlessly with romantic, vintage-inspired patterns that cross seamlessly over through her both the apparel and accessory collections of Aleksa Designs. "I like things that are substantial, that are recognizable," said Dahli Patel of her design aesthetic. "I focus on symmetry, and things that have a sense of balance to them."

For her apparel collection, she translates her vision into light-as-a-feather skirts, dresses and tops that she works with designers in India to create under her label. She rounds out the line with a few key items she private labels from other international designers.

The accessory collection is all Dahli though, as it is her true passion. "I want each piece to look like a piece of artwork, and for the wearer to feel like she is wearing art," she explains.

What does art look like to Dahli? It looks a lot like flower blossoms and sunbursts of brilliantly colored gemstones like citrine, garnet or blue topaz dangling from sterling silver chains or simple organza ribbons. And it looks like geometrically shaped orbs of moonstone, onyx and peridot with pointed tips of pearl. You'll also find delicate bracelets made from linking the tips of sterling silver petals set with gemstones, and bold round rings with embossed sterling centers. "Each piece is unique, and it seems to attract a variety of women, not of a certain age, but who have a certain confidence and grace about them."

She designs the pieces here, and then takes her ideas and sits down with each individual artisan who set her stones for her into her multitude of unique pieces.

She is a firm believer that all women should be able to afford fine jewelry and sets her prices accordingly. "Beautiful jewelry shouldn't cost a fortune," she proclaims. All of her pieces are hand-made, hand-polished and made of sterling silver and semi-precious stones.