Verda Alaton has created Tohum out of her lifelong passion for natural beauty. A lifelong student of anthropology, she draws inspiration from her childhood fascination with exotic cultures, far away lands, arts and extensive travels throughout Asia and Africa. Verda Alaton is passionate about ethnic arts, particularly native adornment which combines natural forms with powerful expression. Discovering their uninhibited relationship with nature has been a big influence on her work. During the five years she spent in New York, she worked with African art experts and started collecting tribal artifacts and accessories while working on her first design ideas. In 2009, after her first trip to West Africa, she launched Tohum to bring to life her unique perspective with a strong belief in simplicity and expressiveness. Verda Alaton\’s \”Cycles Ring\” is the 2015 winner of the prestigious Red Dot – Design Concept – Award and the premier A\’Design Award winner in 2015. Verda Alaton has also won the 2015 ELLE Style Award for \”Jewelry Designer of the Year\” in Turkey A devoted traveller to all corners of the world, she continuously collects original pieces for her designs and finds new sources of inspiration for her future creations.