A charmed life with ALK Designs

By Liz Biggs / Photos by Kate Treick Photography

After a corporate accounting career and raising her three sons, Angie Kercher started her company in 2013 at the age of 52.

“When I founded ALK Designs, I was looking to create jewelry that would reflect a woman’s personality and style and be affordable,” Kercher said.

Her love for jewelry began at a young age watching her French-born mother, the ultimate fashionista, accessorizing her daily outfits with lavish costume jewels. Kercher enjoys all aspects of jewelry design, but her focus is on fun, creative and affordable pieces that can be worn every day.

Sales are brisk thanks to the current trend in fashion jewelry — charm necklaces and bracelets.

“Custom charm necklaces offer wearers a unique way to express their individuality. Charm necklaces tell your story!” Kercher said. “It’s a story of all your favorite things — charms with your favorite hobby, memories or loved ones, including birthstones, initials and symbols of your life.”

Kercher enjoys in-person sales and stays busy “popping up” at local shops, markets and fundraisers in the Pensacola area. You can find her at local shops and boutiques like Artesana, Drift, Gray, Indigeaux and Rusted Arrow. She also participates in local shopping markets like the Rally Gulf Coast Shopping Soiree and the St. Paul’s Christmas Market.

Kercher hosts quarterly open house events as well as shows for Mardi Gras krewes, local groups, schools and churches. Custom pieces for the Fiesta of Five Flags, Hip Huggers, Gatsby Girls, Mystic Maids and Mayoki Indians are created in her home studio. She is excited for new opportunities to collaborate with local artists to provide more custom pieces including new Pensacola-themed charms with Laurel Farrell of Noteworthy.

Kind and caring, Kercher gives back to our community through jewelry donations to local fundraising events for the American Cancer Society, Sacred Heart Foundation, Rally Foundation, Catholic High Auction and others. Look for her designs when you shop the silent auctions for these causes.

The Bella Magazine team had a blast at our girls night out gathering at Kercher’s home studio. It’s as easy as 1-2-3: grab a board, choose your chain, choose your charms (allow yourself some time for this step, the selection is vast!), arrange them the way you want them, and hand it over to Kercher to attach them. Bring beverages and snacks and it’s a party! (Or if you’d rather host the gathering at your own home, ALK can pack up and come to you.) It was fun to see how everyone’s charms reflected their personalities. Gone are the days of kitchenware parties — the time for ALK Designs is now.