Alice Tsakirakis
FOUNDER & DESIGNER | THE LINE OF SUN

Inspired by natural patterns and forms in the Australian Landscape, Alice Tsakirakis works with the ancient technique of lost wax casting – a process whereby each piece is carved in wax, before being cast in precious metals and then sanded and polished to finish off the piece. This sculptural practice means a great deal of texture can be created to form organic objects that will become modern heirlooms. All pieces are designed and made in Melbourne from locally sourced materials. With minimising waste as an important focus, collections are created in small runs with every scrap of metal saved during the working process & melted down to create new works.

How did it all begin for your brand?

I did a Bachelor of Design and then spent around 8 years working as a textile designer for various Australian brands. I was so sick of sitting in front of the computer and working for large companies with which my values didn’t align. Everything was mass produced in the 1000’s with little care about the environmental impact - it was all about the bottom line. I started exploring jewellery as a break from my day job, and immediately loved the process. As my skills improved and I learnt more about the process I slowly shifted to part-time and then freelance, and now have been working solely for myself for around 3 years.

What DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO DESIGN?

My favourite part of my job is making one-off custom pieces and I’ve been lucky enough to have some wonderful clients recently that are just a joy to work with. Having people put their faith in me to create a unique piece they will treasure forever is something I’m forever grateful for and excited about!

What do you love to do most to relax?

There isn’t too much ‘relaxing’ in our household with both of our children - our 8 month old and full-of-beans 3 year old, but their energy recharges me like nothing else. Any times spent with them and my husband out in nature is my favourite place to me.

What advice do you have for emerging designers?

Keep going! It is such hard work starting a business - you really have no idea until you are in the thick of it. If your passion isn’t strong enough, there is no way you’ll be able to stick with it through all stress and rejection. But it gets better! The first few years were hard, but take everything as a lesson and an opportunity for growth. Smooth sailing doesn’t make a skilled Sailor.