bite
jewellery
H
aving designed for top brands such
as Warehouse, Debenhams, Liz
Claiborne’s Mexx Europe,Tateossian
and Lara Bohinc, jewellery and
accessories designer Thomas Halford Ayers’
several years of experience has afforded him
the opportunity to launch his own label.
His costume jewellery line, Toto Design
is inspired by the “multi-ethnical and multi-
cultured environments that we find ourselves
living in today.” It was born out of blending
elements taken from whatThomas describes as
“
worlds apart” and offers consumers accessible
jewellery for lovers of bespoke craftsmanship
and unique design. In the many roles that he
was assigned to, Thomas was able to keep
updated with the latest fashion trends and
markets as well as working closely with fashion
buyers and merchandisers.
Thomas has been passionate about
jewellery design since a very young age. “My
grandfather, from the Italian side of the family,
used to trade antique jewellery. As a matter
of fact on that side of my family there are at
least three generations of great people who
dedicated most of their lives to the jewellery
trade. I effectively started my career as a
Jewellery Designer in 2003 when I presented
my first collection at Goldsmiths University BA
Design degree course.”
Having graduated with a degree in BA
Design in 2003 at Goldsmiths University in
London, Thomas was prepared for a career
in fashion. “The course enabled me to tackle
any ‘design’ challenges and to think of ‘design’
in every daily task. I started my career with
work experience at Lara Bohinc Design Studio
in Hoxton Square, followed by three years of
hard work at Tateossian Ltd in London where
I really learned what it means to be a good
designer and product developer. I am still very
grateful for my work experience at Tateossian
and I feel blessed to have learnt from such a
great team. In 2008, I moved to Amsterdam
in the Netherlands to work for Mexx Europe,
where my career shifted from ‘Fine Jewellery
Design’ to ‘Fashion Costume Jewellery Design
and Accessories’. Working at Mexx gave me
the chance to explore the creative side of the
fashion industry and to learn more about the
way a big international retailer operates at a
faster pace and on larger scale.”
In addition to his family passion for jewellery
design,Thomas says the final push came when
he was preparing for his final degree and
working on his dissertation. “Halfway through
my final year I felt that jewellery was the actual
field of design that mostly suited my personality
and skills.” He defines himself as an artist who
creates commercial products,“Jewellery design
empowers me to be a creative, an artist, a
A DESIGNERTHAT HAS
BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT
JEWELLERY SINCE A
YOUNGAGE,THOMAS
HALFORDAYERS HAS DE-
SIGNED FOR SEVERAL
ESTABLISHED BRANDS.
JADA BROOKES
SPEAKS
TOTHE DESIGNER,WHO
HAS JUST LAUNCHED HIS
OWN LABEL,AND LEARNS
A QUITE A LOTABOUT
THETHINKING BEHIND
HIS DESIGNS.
ThomasHalfordAyers
PHOTOGRAPHER:TONYWELLINGTON
MODEL: PENELOPE JANE OLDFIELD