Dubai-based, Lebanese jewelry designer Donna Hourani recently showcased her eponymous brand at Macle Jewel Collective’s first winter pop-up in her native town Beirut. Imagined by Selim Mouzannar, Macle Jewel Collective, located just a stone’s throw away from his namesake boutique, is home to a handpicked selection of emerging Lebanese and international fine jewelry designers.
Perched on stark white displays at the one-day pop-up event, took place in the charming Ashrafieh neighborhood, Hourani’s debut line spoke volumes in minimal forms. Polished and uncomplicated, silhouettes set with colored gemstones ranged from collarbone-grazing single earrings, sharp-geometric pendants in 18-karat gold, and spiral earrings adorned with pearls that recalled dew drops on passion flower tendrils.
Hourani moved to Lebanon to gain a degree in interior architecture at the Lebanese American University. Prior to launching her jewelry line, the mother of two sons was a professional ballroom dance instructor, who moved to Buenos Aires for a year to learn how to tango. Through her love for colored gems and unique raw precious stones, she found her true calling as a jewelry designer after moving back to Dubai with her husband.
Here, the Gemology Institute of America certified designer shares her two-day trip to Beirut with Vogue Arabia, filled with hidden treasures found off the beaten path, sumptuous food, and an inside look at Macle Jewel Collective’s pop-up. Explore the intricacies of the bustling city through Hourani’s eyes.
