Lama Hourani’s signature style is a mélange of old-world romance, edgy verve and fashion-forward chic. She nearly became an artist, but the calling to become a jewelry designer was much stronger. bazaar takes a deeper look at the young and gifted Jordanian designer who recently showcased her collection at Fa Gallery in Kuwait.

“One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art.” These words by Oscar Wilde couldn’t fit anyone better than internationally acclaimed jewelry designer, Lama Hourani.

From classic to contemporary, her one-of-a-kind jewelry has been exhibited at top-notch galleries and museums around the world. Inspired by her frequent travels, Hourani’s pieces are carefully crafted. She offers an exotic range of exclusive yet affordable jewelry, with a wide customer range.

“Jewelry has the ability to transform any outfit! It reflects a woman’s character and it sets her apart from the crowd,” believes this successful entrepreneur.

Her signature collection, titled Talisman a Lama, is inspired by exotic fables of yore and mythology of the Mediterranean.

How did you get into jewelry designing?

Ever since I was a child, while in the market, I used to drag my mother to look at jewelry in local shops. As a teenager, I started collecting crystals and restyling my necklaces by adding elements I had here and there… that’s when I realized I wanted to do this for the rest of my life! I studied fine arts. Soon after, I met a jewelry craftsman by chance who was looking for a job and we immediately started working on my first collection, which was launched in 2000 and was a big hit! Afterwards I went on to continue my studies in Milan with an M.A. in Product Design degree from Istituto Marangoni, to broaden my horizons; and the rest is history!

Tell us about your design style. What makes

your collections unique?

Behind each jewelry piece, there is a story that extends from the very beginning of the inspiration process where there is a spot in the world that triggered that particular design; my mood board often consists of various photographs that were captured during my trips around the world. The creative process begins with sketching components of Master Pieces and Limited Editions bringing bits and pieces of my most loved moments into my jewelry. These are then given to our very talented artisans who bring those on-paper designs to life with extra attention to detail. After the components are ready they are taken to the assembly section where they are fused with handpicked semi-precious stones according to the color palette chosen for that collection. The assembled pieces enter the last phase of production which is quality control and voila! The masterpiece is displayed at my store which is designed to ensure a wonderful shopping experience for clients coming from different parts of the world. This definitely distinguishes us from others, especially since we live in a mass-produced world.

What kind of woman wears your jewelry?

Women with individualistic style, who are well-traveled and confident, with strong characters. All of my clients are trendsetters, achievers and artistic.

What kind of jewelry do you typically wear?

It depends on my mood. Sometimes I go for statement jewelry pieces, especially when I’m wearing plain casual outfits, I absolutely love layering necklaces, and I tend to wear simpler pieces with busier patterns. There are no rules when it comes to how I wear jewelry – I just follow my gut and what I feel upgrades or flatters my outfit day or night.

What is your biggest inspiration in terms of

your design?

Travel is the biggest trigger of the creative process, especially art and architecture. Discovering different cultures and experiences and sourcing semi-precious stones my mind absorbs images, colors and music that I later translate into sketches.

What are some of your favorite materials to

work with?

I have to say silver…it’s my canvas! I love this metal – it’s flexible, ancient and has so much significance throughout history. Silver contrasts beautifully when combined with other materials. I just finished a collection “Rooted” that incorporates silver and beautiful leather that I found in Barcelona.

What is your favorite piece you’ve ever

created—and what made it so special?

My wedding earrings: I’ve always enjoyed my artistic freedom and the wings incorporated in the design I sketched especially for my big day reflect my travels and adventures. I combined white and yellow gold with black rhodium paved with sapphires, brown diamonds and rubies. My favorite part was the stunning Rhodonite Quartz that I found while in Brazil.

You recently showcased your new collection in

Kuwait. What kind of response did you get?

It was an amazing experience. I met amazing women while in Kuwait and the feedback was beautiful! I will definitely be back to Kuwait for more exhibitions. Women in Kuwait are super-elegant and they appreciate a good piece of jewelry when they see it.

What are upcoming trends in the jewelry

designs in the Middle East region?

The more unique the design, the better. Using various materials, forming unexpected shapes, women invest in design rather than materials nowadays. Also, silver is the new gold… The biggest jewelry brands are creating a silver line due to the rise in the gold prices. Women are rushing towards silver jewelry.

What can we expect from your next collection?

Expect lots of play; an explosion of colors, massive masterpieces and multi-media elements, just in time for spring!

If you missed out on the exhibition, head over to www.lamahourani.com where you can check Lama Hourani’s collection.

Images courtesy of Lama Hourani.