It was 2022, at the Zwara Programme in M7 Qatar, when she stood with confidence, driven by her passion to start her own jewelry line. Her voice filled with excitement as she spoke with Q Life, a platform that gives voices to ideas for the development of the State of Qatar. Maryam Fahad Al-Majid was selected from a group of seven talented artists to display their work at M7 Qatar, the hub for creators in fashion, jewelry, and interior design.
Al-Majid graduated as a fashion designer from Virginia Commonwealth University Qatar (VCUQ) in 2018 after which she started to work on her own jewellery line. However, her enthusiasm for creating unique jewelry pieces began earlier, when she started designing pieces for her father’s store.
The journey began when she enrolled at VCUQ in 2014, finding inspiration all around her. “Overall, at VCUQ, you are exposed to many aspects of design,” Al-Majid said, adding that the help and support from her family, especially her mother, played a vital role in shaping who she is today and influencing the unique pieces she creates.
Following her graduation, Al-Majid designed Goddess of The Desert, Dreamchaser, and Sparrow of the Sea. The first piece she displayed at an exhibition in the Museum of Islamic Art, called Peacock Inspired Earrings, featured a gold pattern resembling peacock feathers, held together by a circular frame of natural pearls and rubies. Designing such detailed pieces requires a lot of creativity, which Al-Majid gains from the world around her. For this piece, she found inspiration from her trip to India, the country she was born in.
Al-Majid comes from two rich and diverse cultural backgrounds–Qatar and India–which she proudly carries. “The way we live at home is very different from a typical Qatari household,” Al-Majid said. Her lifestyle, family interactions, and the type of food they eat at home reflect a blend of both cultures. She sees this as an opportunity to embrace her unique identity and turn it into a key theme of her jewelry compositions, including Sparrow of the Sea.
Throughout her career, while creating jewelry that does not need to follow specific criteria, Al-Majid attempts to reflect her personality and heritage. Sparrow of the Sea, a choker that incorporates two main elements: the golden sparrow, which India was known for at the time, and pearls, representing Qatar’s rich history of pearl diving, it blends both the cultures. The wings of the golden sparrow wrap around the neck, with a medium-sized white pearl at the center, completing the piece. “When I have the freedom to create whatever I can, I always go back to my roots,” Al-Majid said.
Her vision extends beyond her cultural background, focusing on creating pieces that tell a story. In addition, she has researched various topics, such as the Baroque period, French jewelry, bows, and more. The term Baroque, which refers to a period of art history from 1600 to 1775, originated from a Portuguese jeweler’s term “barrocco” meaning “irregularly formed pearls.”
Currently, Al-Majid is working on creating her own jewelry line, a project initiated during her university years. Although she has created pieces that have been displayed at her father’s jewelry stores, she wants people to recognize those creations as entirely her own, carrying the name “Designed by Maryam.”
Beyond designing jewelry, Al-Majid also dabbles in everything from designing clothes to running a business. In 2016, during her university days, she established a business called Wrapping Station, specializing in gift wrapping. Throughout her journey, Al-Majid has not restricted herself to exploring one specific field. She puts her interest in various things that bring her joy. Not only does she embrace her dual cultural heritage, but she also proudly showcases it in every possible way. Whether aa choker or earring, her work showcases a rich blend of two cultures.
