Meet Marissa Alperin | Jewelry Designer & Fiber Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marissa Alperin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marissa, what do you attribute your success to?
I create everything that comes out of my shop and feel personally invested in each piece of jewelry and art. I want my clients to leave happy, to feel happy with what we designed and created together. I’ve made amazing friendships through my space and truly love what I do and how it brings joy into other peoples lives. It’s a great feeling to truly love what you do. To make a living loving your “job” has been a dream come true. I wish this type of success on each of my children when they begin their careers.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I hand make and custom design everything that comes out of my shop. I have owned my business for 20yrs. I love being able to create an engagement ring one day and knit a top the next and sometimes both for the same client. My hands stay busy at all times. Even on vacation I always have a project on me. I love creating pieces that take time and patience. Out of college I worked for bigger companies that were never the right fit. Working for myself and being successful at is has been the biggest gift. I love my shop. It’s located in the same location my grandparents had a grocery store. On a beautiful block in Brooklyn Heights. It’s my happy place.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The area we live in is very special. Brooklyn Heights is located right over the brooklyn bridge, only a short walk or 1 train stop from busy manhattan but you feel this calmness when you arrive to our area. Big trees line brownstone filled streets. The air smells good. We have an amazing park The Brooklyn Bridge Park at our doorstep. It’s a must see and beautiful walk. Atlantic Ave and Court St and Smith Streets are bustling with cute shops and restaurants. For dinner Colonie, Saint Julivert or Noodle Pudding are favorite spots. A cocktail at Long Island Bar or Bohemian Bar are special places. Long Island Bar was owned and run by my grandmother most of my life. Now new owners run it but they kept it the same. My grandfather’s picture is still behind the bar and his bowling balls decorate this special and timeless bar. I love to shop. Collyer’s Mansion, M.Patmos, Diane T, Lily and Rue Saint Paul are beautiful design and clothing shops and all women owned:) For the special Man in your life Goose Barnacle is a must. My brother David and his wife Michelle own and run this mens shop just two blocks from my shop. He carries European brands as well as his own label. The neighborhood is also filled with cute cafes. It’s best to just walk around. You can’t get lost lot’s to see.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my family, all of them but most importantly my mother. My mother was the most creative and beautiful person I know. She introduced me to beading and knitting at a very young age and most importantly fostered our creativity and was creative in everything she did. She ran our home and our lives with so much love and fun. When she passed away 8yrs ago I already had an established and successful jewelry shop which she witnessed and help create. What came from her passing I would have never expected. She was a wonderful knitter, my whole life she followed intricate patterns and knit beautiful pieces. She taught me the basics, i may have knit a bikini or two in my youth. After her death I was left with her knitting room to go through. She had converted my old bedroom into her creative space. I had 100’s of balls of yarn she collected. I was inspired to knit and taught myself how to weave. Knitting and weaving with her yarns brought me to her and made me feel her, literally. And that’s when my fiber art journey began.

Website: www.marissaalperin.com

Instagram: @marissaalperinstudio

Other: Marissa Alperin Studio 25 State Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 718-243-2326