ONE DAY WITH | HAPPENINGS | WORLD OF CABANA
London-based Swiss-German jewelry designer Alina Abegg has amassed a loyal following with her playful, quirky designs. Alina, who recently showcased her collections at Cabana's pop-up in Gstaad, shares with Sophie Goodwin the routines and rituals that keep her creative and balanced day-to-day.
INTERVIEW BY SOPHIE GOODWIN | HAPPENINGS | 28 FEBRUARY 2025
Swiss-German jewelry designer Alina Abegg
I wake up around 8am and start the day with hot water and lemon. It’s such a small thing, but it makes me feel refreshed and ready. Then, if I have the time (and the discipline), I do a quick 10-minute meditation and breathwork session, always with Air by Simrit in the background. I’ll admit, I don’t do it every single day, but when I do, the difference is huge — my mind feels clearer, and the whole day just flows better.
It helps to have a routine. With all the traveling I do — especially back and forth to Switzerland — having some kind of routine keeps me grounded. It doesn’t have to be strict, just something to create a little consistency wherever I am.
Then comes one of my favorite parts of the day: choosing jewelry. After sketching my dreams in the morning, picking out what to wear feels like a way of carrying that creative energy into the day. I love mixing metals and layering pieces — each one holds a memory or a mood. Some remind me of childhood, some feel like little talismans of the unknown. Together, they tell a story that evolves with me.
I was born in London. My father is Swiss-Canadian, and my mother is German. As a child, we moved around a lot, from London to Switzerland, back to London, and then Germany. I spent most of my early years in Montagnola, a small village in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, close to the Herman Hesse Museum.
Being surrounded by nature was one of the biggest gifts. It offered me a rich and nurturing environment where my imagination could run free. I also spent a significant amount of time in St. Moritz, which holds a special place in my heart.
As a child, I was highly sensitive but struggled to articulate my emotions. Instead, I found solace in my imagination and fantasy. I spent hours exploring my mother’s closet, mixing and matching clothes and jewelry to create different looks. I also developed a fascination with gemstones. Our home in St. Moritz was next to an esoteric shop selling crystals, essences, and souvenirs. I spent countless hours there, enchanted by the beauty and energy of gemstones. Jewelry became my creative outlet.
I use creativity when I can’t find the words. I always work intuitively, guided by my own feelings and emotions. Looking back, I’ve realised through my designs I’m telling my own stories and reliving memories, dreams, and moments which have shaped me.
Music and sound are my strongest portals. They transport me to memories or places that spark new concepts. I often take long walks or immerse myself in a club setting, where I find clarity through letting go. These experiences help me channel my feelings into something tangible. I take notes on my iPhone and later bring those ideas to life through mood boards and sketches.
I keep a dream journal by my bedside to sketch what I see at night. Not every dream becomes a design, but the act of recording them helps me understand myself better. I often reflect on Freud’s belief that dreams hold the keys to our underlying desires. My creative process begins with a feeling, rather than a specific idea.
My greatest memory is from 1997. I’m seven, and can still picture myself running barefoot through our garden in Montagnola. Our treehouse felt like a castle, the pool a shimmering escape, and the playroom this world of endless possibilities. I remember Free by Ultra Naté playing on the radio in the kitchen. At the time, I didn’t fully understand what the song meant, but I felt it - a sense of joy and freedom that shaped how I see the world.
Discover more | www.alinaabegg.com
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