Alyx Kottmeier grew up on the North Shore but these days she doesn't stay in one place long.
Kottmeier travels from country to country, funding her adventures by teaching yoga and selling handmade jewelry. Her Gypsalove collection of accessories was born from a desire to backpack in style. The pieces feature crystals and stones gathered from the far reaches of the globe. In addition to selling her own designs, Kottmeier also buys and sells jewelry made by artisans she has met along the way.
The North Shore News recently reached her on the west coast of India for a Q-and-A.
Editor's note: interview has been condensed for brevity.
What are you doing in India?
I'm making all my dreams come true. For the last two years I've owned the HippTrip Yoga Studio at the Simrose Hotel in Goa where you practise while hearing the ocean and, if you're lucky, you may see a dolphin while in a downward-facing dog. In September this year we're moving the studio to Cambodia.
Describe your Gypsalove jewelry line?
Gypsalove is me. It's my thoughts, my creations and really it's a lifestyle. It's a jewelry line that shouts out "I am a gypsy and am a confident goddess." Not all the pieces are from me. Some are tribal necklaces from Tibet. Gypsalove is Bohemian yet fashionable. You can wear Gypsalove with jeans or a fancy dress. But most of all Gypsalove is whimsical.
How and when did you start Gypsalove?
It just started two years ago. I love jewelry and I wanted to have a fair trade brand that shows the world what it's like to be in my world. In the past two years I've been in Nepal, India, Thailand, Bali, Cambodia, Mexico, Guatemala, Italy, Denmark, Turkey and the U.K. I wanted people to see this globe through my jewelry. All my sweat, heart and soul have gone into each piece. They are my footprints I leave on this earth.
What inspires your designs?
The world inspires me, the people I meet, the laughter, the sounds, my yoga, how I feel, what I see, being in the present moment. This collection is the East meets the West because that's exactly what I am. I try not to look at magazines or watch TV because Gypsalove comes from a different place. I want the inspiration to come from actual things I see in this universe.
What are your favourite materials to work with?
Healing stones. They are amazing. If you feel aggressive, wear moonstone and you will be calm. Crystals bring clarity. I love all crystals and stones. Plus they are found all over the world. I work mostly in silver and copper metals.
Where do you source your materials?
I source from around the globe. Anywhere I travel, I collect. For instance, I got all my turquoise from the border of Nepal and Tibet. I climbed over 5,000 meters to get it. All our crystal comes from the Mount Everest area. This year, the stones come from Guatemala, Mexico, Nepal, Tibet and India.
Kottmeier's jewelry is available online at gypsalove.com.
