How did you come to working with
Mahmoud and Al Zain Jewellery?
Mahmoud: I am in charge of production,
designing, and product development at
Al Zain jewellery and my background has
always been in jewellery. I was introduced
to Virginie and she told me about her idea.
She gave me the designs and we worked on
the first prototypes. It was 5 years ago.
How does the design process take place
for each collection?
Virgnie: We have seven collections so
far, and for example if we take the Chakra
collection, I worked on the different Chakras
and reworked the design to make it my
own. We have changed the way the petals
have been arranged but kept the design
true enough to make sure the meaning
behind them remains. Once the design was
finalised, I began to work with Mahmoud on
the prototypes. I explained him the delicacy
of the work I was hoping to have for this
collection and my desire for very thin chains
but strong at the same time. Mahmoud has
always great suggestions especially on the
technical aspects of the manufacturing. We
also created together the signature design
- so on each piece you will see a small
meditation symbol. One month after I gave
him the drawings, he came back to me with
the pieces and they were perfect.
What has the reception in Bahrain been
so far in Bahrain? How did you think the
market would respond?
Virginie: Honestly, I was surprised
because my initial idea was to launch Tiny
Om in France and in the United States
where the yoga market is huge, and
reaction has been good in both countries.
But I realised that people in Bahrain likes
Tiny Om too, and now when I walk in the
street I am very glad to see quite a lot of
women wearing my jewellery.
In terms of market, I think I got lucky
to arrive at a good time where there was
nothing within fine jewellery yoga-related.
APRIL - MAY 2017
Perle
33