Azuni | Modern Handmade Designer Jewellery Collections

 

Ashley Marshall, founder and creative director of Azuni London, has always sought his inspiration from his extensive global travels. Beginning his career working as a professional chef in some of London’s top kitchens, such as The Dorchester, The Ivy and La Caprice, he learnt to harness his creative intuition through blending different flavours and ingredients to create exquisite dishes. It is this 'mix it and shake it' talent that Ashley subsequently applied to designing jewellery to establish the Azuni Brand back in 1996. A unique approach to design, evoked through each and every Azuni collection over the last twenty five years. 

Ashley's interest in handmade and designer jewellery was sparked during his travels in South America. He took an ethnographic approach to his research, immersing himself in a variety of native cultures and uncovering their ancient arts and philosophies. 

On his return to the UK, Ashley pursued three years studying at Sir John Cass faculty of Art, Architecture and Design in London, to nurture this interest and refine his craftsmanship. This led to him blending ancient and tribal artforms with contemporary pop culture and fashion trends to develop a jewellery style that quite literally sat ‘Between Two Worlds’. Thus, Ashley’s concept of ‘Urban Tribes’ was born.

Ashley's first show in Paris was met with huge acclaim, leading to Azuni being showcased in fifty premium stores, including Gallerie Lafayette, Le Bon Marche and Frank et Fils, in the first year alone.  Established brands including Whistles, Jigsaw, Paul Smith and Emanuel Ungaro have also commissioned collections.  

Azuni has additionally long been a stylists favourite, regularly featuring most notably in Vogue, Elle, Conde Naste, Tattler, Grazia and Cosmopolitan amongst others.