About
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"With each piece's organic imperfections, we're invited to slow down and feel again."
Mahnal is a collection of contemporary brass jewelry that studies natural forms and elements to inspire contemplation. The artisanal nature of this jewelry is an embrace of living a slower, more intentional lifestyle. In a fast paced world of fleeting trends and ever shifted styles, ofttimes we miss the enduring. It's the little things, as they say, that matter most. Mahnal sheds light on the gentle, insightful, and poetic beauty of Islam and the Arabic language. Traditionally, Islamic art is used to inspire contemplation. Through stimulating reflective thought, Mahnal creates a pathway towards embracing a slower, more intentional life. Many pieces are named in Arabic, imbuing each piece with a special message or characteristic of empowerment for the wearer. Mahnal takes inspiration from the places we find most meditative. It explores themes like silhouettes in nature, the repetition of lines in architecture, or how light plays against texture. With each piece's organic imperfections, we're invited to slow down and feel again. _____ |
"I want women to feel at sanctuary with Mahnal. A space of beautiful escapism. As I design, I’m thinking about the inner worlds of women- how are we doing? How are we feeling? What inner truth do we need to remember? I pull that out and show it back to us as a wearable reminder. I take inspiration from the adornments of old world cultures, but my greatest influence comes from a world that doesn’t exist yet. A utopia where women are their truest selves. I believe our beauty is the entry to God and this is jewelry for the journey.
I started designing after studying fashion at the Institute of Art in Chicago. Growing up in a family full of fine artists, designers, and musicians it was as natural as breathing to me. I jumped around between fine art, fashion design, and film photography until I was inspired to explore jewelry as a medium of expression after the transition of my father in 2014. I launched Mahnal full-time in 2018 in my hometown of St. Louis, where I currently reside continuing my passion to inspire and adorn."
- Shayba Muhammad, Designer