Martine Ali founded her Brooklyn-based, namesake jewelry label in 2010. Born and bred in the suburbs of Chicago, Ali began selling intricate, beaded jewelry to her mother’s friends at seven or eight years old. After graduating from Fordham University in 2008, she interned at DKNY, where she quickly rose through the ranks, ultimately designing jewelry for the designer label before leaving to establish her own brand. Drawing from New York City’s rich visual culture, such as the chains that hold subway gates closed, Ali and her small team craft utilitarian pieces that strive to solve functional wardrobe problems. All Martine Ali jewelry is assembled by hand in New York City, predominantly from sterling silver and “Heirloom Silver” (sterling silver dipped brass), and hand-tarnished to create a patina that is unique to each piece.