Alik Alfus: The Made in Chelsea Star Who Built a New York Leather Legacy
Alik Alfus is an American television personality, leather designer and businessman from New York City. He became widely known in 2014 after joining Made in Chelsea: NYC. His confident style, humour and open emotions made him one of the most memorable American faces in the programme.
He later joined the main Made in Chelsea cast and became closely linked with Louise Thompson. Their relationship brought him wider fame in Britain, but television was only one part of his life. Long before viewers knew his name, he had grown up inside a family leather business.
Today, his main focus is Te Aplomb and the public-facing Atelier Aplomb brand. His work brings together family history, fine materials, personal design and New York craftsmanship.
Alik Alfus Age, Birthday and Early Life
Alik was born on 25 November 1988 in Manhattan, New York. He is 37 years old in July 2026 and will turn 38 in November 2026. He spent much of his early life in New York, where he was exposed to sport, fashion and business. His family had strong ties to the city’s leather trade, so he learned about hides, finishes, textures and design from a young age. This early experience later became the base of his professional life. While reality television introduced him to a large audience, leather and fashion were already part of his identity.
Alik Alfus Family and Parents
Alik Alfus is the son of Mitchell “Mitch” Alfus and Therese Poulsen. He has two sisters, Mila Alfus and Sofi Alfus.
Alik Alfus Dad, Mitch Alfus
Mitch Alfus is a well-known leather businessman and the founder of Libra Leather. He has been called “The Leather King” because of his long career and deep knowledge of the trade. Libra Leather supplies leather, suede and specialist materials to fashion and design customers.
Working With His Father
Alik later worked beside his father and learned how leather moves from tannery to showroom and then into finished products. This practical training gave him knowledge that cannot be gained from theory alone.
Alik Alfus Mother and Sisters
His mother is Therese Poulsen. His sisters are Mila and Sofi Alfus. He has also spoken with pride about his Jewish family culture. The safest description is that he is an American with a Jewish family and cultural background.
Alik Alfus Education and Sporting Life
Alik attended Riverdale Country School in New York. He was active in sport and played baseball and American football. He served as a catcher in baseball and a quarterback in football. During his senior year, he captained both teams. Sport helped build the confidence later visible on television.
Rollins College
After Riverdale, he attended Rollins College in Florida from 2007 to 2011. His professional education record states that he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Critical Media and Cultural Studies and Economics. He also joined Alpha Tau Omega and took part in Rollins Lacrosse and Rollins Crew. His college athletics record shows that he played midfield for the Rollins Tars.
His Rollins athletics record shows that he wore number 13 and played midfield. During the 2008 season, he took part in 14 games, started nine, scored his first college goal, collected 13 ground balls and caused four turnovers. He played five more games in 2009. The same record names his grandfather, Albert Alfus, as a former baseball player connected with the Giants, though it gives no further detail. His studies supported his later work in media, fashion and business.
Alik Alfus Career Before Television
After leaving college, Alik joined Libra Leather. He served as vice-president from September 2011 until October 2019. He learned about sourcing, quality control, customer service and the needs of designers. He also travelled with his father to visit suppliers and tanneries. His time at Libra Leather was not a short celebrity job. It was a major part of his professional development and lasted for more than eight years.
Planterina Holdings
From June 2020 to October 2021, he worked as general manager at Planterina Holdings LLC in New York. Fewer details are available about his daily duties there, but the position added management experience to his career.
Alik Alfus on Made in Chelsea
Alik entered British television through Made in Chelsea: NYC in 2014. He stood out through his lively, direct and emotional personality. He later moved into the main Made in Chelsea series and became one of the best-known American figures in the franchise.
Made in Chelsea Spin-Offs
His television work also included Made in Chelsea: LA and Made in Chelsea: South of France. He later returned to the main programme, where his past relationship with Louise Thompson remained part of the story.
Celebs Go Dating and Sunday Brunch
In 2018, he joined Celebs Go Dating. The format allowed him to show more of his personality outside the usual Made in Chelsea group. He also appeared on Sunday Brunch, where viewers saw a lighter side of him away from major reality television drama.
Alik Alfus and Louise Thompson
Alik met Louise Thompson during Made in Chelsea: NYC. Their romance became one of the main stories of the series. He later spent time in London so they could continue their relationship. However, long distance, different lifestyles and pressure from television placed strain on them. Their relationship ended in 2016. They were never married and did not have children together. Louise later built a life with Ryan Libbey, while Alik returned his attention to New York and business.
Alik Alfus and Charlotte A. Svendsen
Alik is now engaged to Charlotte A. Svendsen. A joint social media reel from their accounts carried the date “8/14/25” with a white heart and ring emoji. Friends and followers filled the comments with congratulations, which strongly supports an engagement on 14 August 2025. He also shared a Valentine’s Day message for Charlotte in February 2026, writing openly about his love for her.
No wedding has been publicly confirmed, so Charlotte should be described as his fiancée rather than his wife. The couple have no publicly confirmed children.
Alik Alfus and Te Aplomb
Alik became founder and chief executive of Te Aplomb in January 2023. His professional record places the company in New York and describes the role as full-time. The business is also presented to customers through the Atelier Aplomb name. The two names are closely connected, with Te Aplomb linked to the company identity and Atelier Aplomb used for the luxury leather brand.
Atelier Aplomb and Leather Craftsmanship
Atelier Aplomb creates bespoke, made-to-measure and ready-to-wear leather clothing. Its products include jackets, shirts, bags, bottle carriers and smaller lifestyle pieces. The brand reflects New York streets, music, motor culture and downtown fashion.
Bespoke Design Process
Customers can meet with Alik, discuss a design, select leather and choose details such as colour, lining, fit and finish. Specialist makers then create the piece in New York’s Garment District.
Why Bespoke Work Matters
Each item is made to feel individual and long-lasting. This approach gives the customer more control over the final design and creates a closer link between the maker and the person wearing it.
Waste Reduction and Creative Use
The company also uses leftover leather for bags, accessories and limited creative projects. This reduces waste and gives smaller pieces of material a new purpose.
Alik Alfus Net Worth
Alik Alfus has no officially confirmed current net worth. An older estimate from 2016 placed his wealth at about £2.6 million. That figure was linked with his television career and his role in the family leather business. However, the estimate is now outdated and does not provide clear details about ownership, debts, company value or present income. It should be treated as an old media estimate, not a proven financial total.
Alik Alfus Now
Alik now lives and works in the New York City area. His public identity has changed greatly since his Made in Chelsea years. He is no longer best defined by reality television or his former relationship. He now presents himself as a founder, leather specialist and creative businessman. His social media connects his personal life with Charlotte and his work at Atelier Aplomb.
Why Alik Alfus Remains Interesting
His life connects several different worlds. He has been a college athlete, reality television star, family business executive, manager and fashion founder. He returned to the trade he knew from childhood and used family knowledge to build a modern leather business. His career also shows that fame does not have to be the final goal. Television gave him recognition, but his knowledge of materials, design and business gave him a stronger base for the future.
Final Thoughts on Alik Alfus
Alik Alfus is more than a former Made in Chelsea personality. He is a New York businessman with deep family roots in leather, a strong sporting background and years of professional experience. His television career made him famous, but Te Aplomb and Atelier Aplomb define his work today. He is engaged to Charlotte A. Svendsen, remains based in New York and continues to develop a brand built on craft, luxury and personal design.
His journey from reality television to bespoke leather shows a clear change in direction. It also proves that a public figure can turn early fame into a more serious and lasting career.
FAQs
1. Who is Alik Alfus?
Alik Alfus is an American television personality, leather designer and businessman from New York City. He became famous through Made in Chelsea: NYC in 2014 and later joined the main Made in Chelsea series. He is now the founder and chief executive of Te Aplomb and works with the Atelier Aplomb leather brand.
2. How old is Alik Alfus?
Alik Alfus was born on 25 November 1988. He is 37 years old as of July 2026 and will turn 38 on 25 November 2026.
3. Is Alik Alfus married?
Alik Alfus is not publicly confirmed to be married. He is engaged to Charlotte A. Svendsen. The couple shared a joint social media reel featuring the date 14 August 2025 with a heart and engagement-ring emoji. His former girlfriend is Made in Chelsea star Louise Thompson.
4. Who are Alik Alfus’ parents?
Alik Alfus’ parents are Mitchell “Mitch” Alfus and Therese Poulsen. His father is a respected New York leather businessman, founder of Libra Leather and widely known as “The Leather King”.
5. Does Alik Alfus have any siblings?
Yes, Alik Alfus has two sisters named Mila Alfus and Sofi Alfus. His family has strong roots in the leather trade, and at least one of his sisters has also worked within the family business.
6. What is Alik Alfus’ net worth?
Alik Alfus has an estimated net worth of £2.6 million. The figure was first published in 2016 and was repeated in a 2025 feature about wealthy Made in Chelsea cast members. However, his exact wealth has not been officially confirmed, so £2.6 million should be treated as an estimate.
