Crepe-paper sculpture was Alice Millner’s first form of creative expression, and if you’ve never heard of the Belgian tradition of beachfront paper-flower bartering, Millner—owner of fine jewelry brand Alice van Cal—is the perfect person to explain it.
Millner grew up in Brussels, and her family spent weekends at the Belgian seaside. This place, the paper flowers she made there, and the “selling” she and other children did provided her foundation as a business owner, Millner says.
“All along the Belgian coast, children like me would set up make-believe shops of paper-flower decorations we crafted ourselves and would offer to sell them to people passing by, with shells acting as currency,” Millner says. “We would assemble the flowers out of colorful crepe paper bought in local craft shops and learn the bones of what it is to run a business. But to me, it was more than that.
“I used to adore playing with the different colors and the freedom of having no boundaries to the creativity you have,” she says. “I discovered balance in color and it made me realize how much I loved creating something with my hands.
“The practice of paper flowers on Belgian beaches is now part of the officially recognized heritage, which is amazing, because they are my earliest memories of creativity,” she adds.
They also led her to a life in jewelry. Millner, who trained in London and now resides in Monaco, founded Alice van Cal in 2018 and is celebrating its latest news: The brand will debut in the United States at Bergdorf Goodman at the end of this year.
Alice van Cal is known for its innovative Alice clasp pendant and the durability and beauty of its jewelry, as well as Millner’s spiritual principles. Her company’s success is exciting, Millner says, but she’s humble and grateful for the opportunities she has enjoyed throughout her career.
“I found my way to jewelry through authentic practices—I have always created from my heart and core, and am constantly inspired by moments from my life which I intentionally work into my designs,” Millner says. “I also had significant help from my vast experiences, as detailed in my internships and travels, so by the time I launched, the time just felt right. And I think that showed.”
She worked in retail stores as a teen, but it was a gap year between high school and college that still influences Millner. “It’s one of the best things I ever did,” she says. “I did six months in Venezuela and spent time working with children who had disabilities. I originally wanted to work in care for these people who had disabilities through the form of art. I quickly realized I just wasn’t built for it, because it broke my heart on a daily basis. However, it remains a top priority of mine to this day to make sure we incorporate visibility and equal opportunities for those in need.”
Millner got a degree in marketing and communications from Brussels’ European Communication School, then worked as an intern at two different public relations firms. At one she was assigned to LVMH; its luxury brands like Dior and Givenchy spoke to her, and she moved on to a 2009–10 internship at Piaget.
“My time at Piaget led me to being introduced to the brand manager at Baume & Mercier in London, which is where the foundations of Alice van Cal really began to be built,” she says. “I found my place as a protégée at Baume & Mercier for four and a half years, and it was the surroundings that inspired me to begin my own brand.
“I shared the same walls with the artisans of the Cartier workshop, which allowed me to gain exclusive insight to the craft of fine jewelry-making and, most importantly, ignited that spark I had to bring my designs to life.”
The Cartier workshop head noticed her interest in jewelry and began mentoring her. That gave Millner lessons that resulted in the creation of “the Alice,” her signature and patented design that can be worn as a necklace, bracelet, earring drop, or a hand jewel.
After Baume & Mercier, Millner spent a year and a half working for Christie’s, in 2015 and 2016. Her experiences taught her that she wanted to work independently and have a strong core message for her brand.
“I launched Alice van Cal when my firstborn was 5 months old, and I really feel the business has given me a drive I didn’t have before,” Millner says. “I thrive off being able to balance my kids, my husband, myself, the brand—it’s very motivating to do that on a daily basis. I have three sons, so I also think it’s good they can see that Mommy works. They are already showing interest in materials and jewelry, which is amazing.”
Millner is now pursuing an education in lithotherapy, a natural healing practice that utilizes stones, crystals, and minerals to improve physical, mental, and emotional health.
“I feel like the lithotherapy is cementing everything together in my life, and almost completing me in a way. Everything makes sense, and what I now know is right for me,” Millner says. “I am also studying to become a color analyst, which, beside the knowledge in the power of stones, means I design with the utmost intention and can help my customer discover their inner peace in the most authentic way.”
Top: Alice Millner says childhood creativity plus later internships and mentorships set her on a path to starting her fine jewelry brand, Alice van Cal. (Photos courtesy of Alice van Cal)
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