Allegra Franziska Lipanje

Name: Allegra Franziska Lipanje

Age: 37

Where I am from: Trieste, Italy

Where I live: Bali, Indonesia

1. This is who I am in the world…

On paper I am a jewellery designer and a business owner. Who am I the way I see it? Simply a maker of tiny objects. You could say I am an animist in that way, because I believe in the energy of inanimate things. I play with symbolism a lot. 

I think jewellery in particular relies heavily on symbols, and this becomes powerful because its a type of object that is worn close to your body, that people assign personal meaning to. 

I narrate a story with gaps through the objects I make. I say 'with gaps', because we all have a different set of symbols and signs in our heads, which is tied to our personal history. 

Therefore the moment you wear one of my objects, your story becomes part of it too and the meaning may change. 

2. This is the story I want rewritten for women…

I don't believe that any woman's story can be rewritten, as harsh as that may sound. Unfortunately I don't believe the past can be retouched, and that it's there for a reason. 

But what I will say is this. I believe it is important to address young girls, because their story is just about to unfold. 

So my story for you, young girl is this. 

You are fundamentally alone, and for most of your life you will be. Get used to it. Cultivate your mind, your skills, your heart and your soul. 

Everything external, including your face, your body and other people, will falter or disappoint you at some point in your life. 

It matters relatively because these things are transient and in constant movement. Learn to not rely on them. So that, when you feel like things are faltering in your life,  you may find strength is in what you do, the soul you've cultivated for yourself, the beliefs you have created for you. 

This I promise you, will always stay. 

This is where you will find the love to overcome anything that life will throw at you. 

3. This is the story I want to write for myself…

The story I write for myself begins today. Because I want to try and be as present as I can. To endlessly observe life unfold around me. To continue to find beauty in small things, and lessons in pain. To find the patience to accept what is difficult and not avoid it.  To gain some balance, so I don’t make the mistake of looking at things in black or white. 

Most importantly, to find compassion where I am most challenged,and to cultivate a connection with everything around me. To not let my relations be transactional but rather come from my heart. And in this way,  find the generosity to be moved into action by that very heart, so that I may at times give of myself to this world without strings attached.

My social media details :

Instagram : 

@allegra.lipanje (personal)

@haywirejewellery (work)