Robin Driver
Apr 6, 2021
New York-born jewelry designer Alex Woo, who was famous for her personalized charms, passed away
from cancer at the age of 47 on March 30.
“We are deeply saddened to inform you of the passing of Alex Woo, creative designer and founder of Alex Woo Inc. She passed away peacefully earlier this week surrounded by the love of her family and friends,” said the jeweler’s namesake brand in a community announcement posted to its official website, as well as on its Instagram account.
“Alexandra was a doting mother, wife, daughter, and businesswoman, and her impact on the jewelry industry will never be forgotten. Over an illustrious twenty years, she told countless stories through her designs, and they quickly became an extension of who she was,” continues the statement.
The daughter of a bench jeweler, Woo was surrounded by jewelry from a young age. After attending Cornell University, she went on to study jewelry at Parsons School of Design and won the grand prize of the Women’s Jewelry Association’s DIVA Awards for jewelry design in 1998.
She founded her own brand in 2001 and quickly drew attention for her sculptural charms, becoming one of the first jewelry designers to specialize in personalization with her Little Icons Collections, which include some of her most instantly recognizable pieces.
As well as an extensive list of celebrity fans, which includes the likes of Ariana Grande, Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya, Julia Roberts and Christina Applegate – who also signed off on a collaboration with the jeweler – Woo’s designs have secured a strong presence for themselves in popular culture.
Alex Woo pieces were featured in all six seasons of Gossip Girl and the brand was also responsible for Carrie Bradshaw’s signature “C” necklace in Sex and the City prequel series The Carrie Diaries.
Woo is survived by her husband, Edward Huang, and their son, Alexander. A memorial service was held for the designer at Siesta Beach in Sarasota, Florida, on April 2.