Chama Mechtaly is the Moroccan visual artist and designer behind the new multicultural jewelry collection Moors & Saints. The in-Dubai handmade silver or 18-carat gold pieces ranging from earrings, rings, bracelets, and necklaces. For men, cufflinks are also available. The collection was named after the historical cities of Marrakech, Granada, and Cairo.
In an interview with Arab News, Chama shared that her brand started with the mission to connect minds and hearts with her local Dubai based community. “For the last few years, we have been witnessing the rise of nationalism and anti-immigrant rhetoric all over the world… I wanted to find some kind of universal language that started somewhere and traveled across the world, affecting the lives of different communities, and so Moorish design popped up.”
From Marrakech, Mechtaly found inspiration in the city’s popular zellij’ glazed tile work. The 16th-century Saadi Dynasty era influenced her designs. The Marrakech collection is set in a rose-tone hue that is a reflection of the ochre-colored city. The jewelry line is also popular for its repetitive geometric patterns that reflect the brand’s integration of Moorish designs.
“If you look at the context of massive, powerful Muslim civilizations like Andalusia, the Mogul Empire, or the Fatimid Dynasty in Cairo, they were only able to become powerful because they weaved and included different communities, including Jews, Christians, and Hindus,” Mechtaly.