Calling All Angels

Jacquie Aiche tiptoed through the lush gardens of her Beverly Hills showroom to the workshop, creating jewellery enriched by her heritage – and the glittering results caught the eye of LA’s glitterati.

WORDS: CHRIS UJMA

“The woman I design for is feminine, sexy, unabashed and barefoot. A risk taker, a troublemaker, a mover, and a shaker,” enthuses jewellery artisan Jacquie Aiche, of her archetypal muse.

With her brand based in Tinseltown, such description brings to mind the likes of A-listers like Jennifer Lawrence, Ruby Rose, Hailey Baldwin and Rihanna – and it’s little surprise that these sophisticated rapscallions are all clients. “My ‘JA Tribe ‘is full of women who adore being adorned; lovers of good vibes, the energy of minerals, and layers of diamonds, of course,” the founder adds.

Aiche started out working in a boutique, but “found it hard to find jewellery that I connected with,” she says. “Traditional, classical jewellery is amazing, but it’s just not to my taste. I wanted to create adornments that were sensual and feminine. Pieces that would make women feel like the goddesses that we are. So, I started designing my own jewellery and selling anonymously.”

The response confirmed her intuition of “This is what I was meant to do”. Going all-in, Aiche turned her old Beverly Hills home into a dedicated workshop/ showroom, and by going it alone she struck gold – 14k, being exact, which is the basis for each piece.

She combines the precious metal with diamonds and gemstones, in designs that echo her Egyptian / Native American heritage and other intriguing references.

At her atelier, Aiche says she surrounds herself “with people who can make the biggest challenges feel small and easy to face,” adding, “I feel so blessed to have so many incredible women in my tribe and it truly has all happened organically. I think a lot of women are drawn to my designs for the exact reason I started making jewellery in the first place. To find something that you connect to on a spiritual level and that you never need to take off because it makes you feel like a goddess. Every woman should feel that.” I

t’s hard to resist name-dropping when discussing this brand, but Aiche has allured an enviable client base. Pull up recent social media snaps of free-spirited trendsetters, and you’ll see them draped in these curios of earthy elegance; Emily Ratajkowski (wearing a mini bone double horn necklace), Rosie Huntington- Whiteley (graced with the 31 Diamond Necklace), and Gigi Hadid (in a Trillion Diamond Shaker Necklace), et al.

Actress and former Victoria’s Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio was one of the first women in the JA Tribe. “She used to come to my boutique before I started creating publicly. Her support is so special to me,” admits Aiche.

“I met Jacquie when she owned a little store on Sunset Boulevard,” Ambrosio recalls. “She showed me some of the pieces and it was love at first sight. I have been wearing her pieces for such a long time. Her hallmark is very chic and bohemian and she uses so many unique precious stones, which are totally my style. I like that her pieces are simple yet stunning and you can layer many different pieces together.”

Jacquie’s design hallmark is very chic and bohemian, and she uses unique precious stones. It was love at first sight."

Ambrosio was the muse for Aiche’s Summer 2017 collection; the designer picks one woman for each new season as inspiration. Namibian model (and mother) Behati Prinsloo reflects the spirit of the current, Fall 2018 line, with its Pave Coin Shaker Eternal Life necklace, Tourmaline Shower Drop earrings and Diamond Lizzy bracelet statement pieces; she was also the muse for Fall 2015.

“Behati is the most badass chic,” laughs Aiche. “She’s just so cool and radiates with insane positivity and kindness. She’s the ultimate muse and I feel so lucky to have her in my tribe.”

Prinsloo returns the love: “I love how her jewellery makes me feel, both when I see it and when wear it; it just speaks to me. It’s all so raw, it’s like you can feel the earthiness in her pieces.”

The pair also first met at Aiche’s LA showroom, “In this beautiful space with the best energy,” Prinsloo recalls. “She gave me a drink and we sat outside and talked for a while, before I went in and died because I wanted every piece. I decided to work on the project because she emailed me, told me about the concept, asked me if I was interested, and I was like ‘ummmmmm hell yeah.’”

It’s little wonder that Aiche’s handmade jewellery pieces have attracted the eye of Hollywood’s most glamorous (and on-trend) – hers is a free-spirited philosophy; “Forever on vacation”, as Ambrosio explains of her life motto.

Every client who speaks of wearing a JA creation touches expresses two key emotions: freedom of expression, plus feeling feminine. This owes, perhaps, to her authenticity; she didn’t go hunting for stars to boost her profile.

“At the end of the day I just want to play with my crystals in the garden. I stay very connected to the entire creation process, it’s what keeps me grounded and happy. For me it’s all about the jewellery – I still get goosebumps when I see a piece come to life,” says the entrepreneurial owner.

And hers is an empowering aura: “When you have strong women in your life who support you and your journey, you can accomplish anything. I have an incredible team that I’ve been working with since the beginning. Your vibe attracts your tribe.”

In LA, the famed first letter of the HOLLYWOOD sign should be ready to share the spotlight; there’s another significant Aiche in town.