Our Story
Hi Octane Industries was founded by Alicia Hanson — an environmental graphic designer by training, jewelry designer, and creator at heart. Coming from a family prolific in art and design, Alicia has always been enamored with classic cars. From watching sparks fly as her dad welded on projects to taking road trips in search of the next restoration, her love for vintage automobiles runs deep. She’s equally at home pulling parts in a junkyard, welding a torch or dressed to the nines at a car show.
Themes of vintage cars, tropical florals, Hawaiiana, and Asian art weave through her work. In her early years on the West Coast, Alicia roamed rural mountain towns, navigating dusty backroads to explore turquoise and crystal mines—collecting antlers, stones, and shiny silver objects along the way. An avid paddleboarder and sailor, she draws inspiration from land and sea alike.
Alicia met her husband, Brad Johnson, a fellow artist, traveler, and maker. Their shared passion for exploration and creativity forged a partnership both in life and art. Together, they discovered the alchemy of metalsmithing—captivated by how raw materials transform under fire and hands. Their journey led them to Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle, WA, where they honed their silversmithing and lost wax casting skills while road-tripping across the Pacific Northwest in vintage cars and ferries.
Today, Alicia and Brad call the semi-coastal city of DeLand, Florida home. They spend their days sketching, carving, soldering, organic gardening, celebrating their grown kids, cooking for friends, and remodeling their mid-century home. Their passion for architecture even fuels an appreciation for Florida Mid Century Homes for Sale—a nod to their love of design and timeless style. Road trips in their solar-equipped Sprinter van—documented with thousands of photos—continue to inspire their creative process.
Together, they founded Hi Octane Industries, which now encompasses:
Hi Octane Jewelry – An automotive-inspired jewelry line and cool apparel.
Silver Botanica – Botanical-inspired jewelry, clothing, and home goods.
Learn Lost Wax Casting – Their immersive jewelry-making workshops where students learn the art of lost wax casting, from wax carving to silversmithing, 3D printing jewelry making and Metal etching.
Florida Mid Century Homes For Sale – a nod to their love of design and timeless style.
Whether it’s jewelry, vintage cars, tropical designs, or the magic of molten metal, Alicia and Brad bring passion and artistry to everything they create—inviting you to join them in the adventure.
Our story
