![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gjepc.org\/solitaire\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Beenish-Mahmood.jpg\")
Art became a significant part of her life as did books, a love inculcated by her parents. Her family, in the meantime, nurtured a love of jewellery \u2014 her grandmother fondly passed down treasured jewels, while her father gifted her exquisite gemstones bought during his global travels.<\/p>\n
Her parents offered Beenish their support, when they realised her childhood fascination could lead to a promising career. She enrolled at The Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design, closely linked with L\u2019Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, and over the next three years, she delved into haute couture, gaining a deep appreciation for refined design and superior craftsmanship.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring my final college year, I pivoted towards jewellery design, crafting a portfolio to pursue my dream as a designer. Alongside, I undertook a course with the World Gold Council and created a line of bold sculptural jewellery for the brand SAH London. Securing a prestigious position at Khaleel Al-Sayegh propelled me into the industry immediately after graduation. The rest, as they say, is history,\u201d Beenish adds.<\/p>\n As their inaugural designer in Pakistan, her primary focus for Sayegh was the Noor Collection, for which she explored traditional Mughal jewellery and ancient goldsmithing techniques. She worked with big hand-carved gems like 50-carat rubies, the size of doorknobs, and designed bridal jewellery as well as weighty gold pieces.<\/p>\n \u201cAs I worked closely with skilled artisans in Pakistan, I began to delve into intricate designs similar to those done on couture garments and fabric,\u201d she recalls. To hone her skills further, the designer pursued Gemology and Jewelry Design at GIA in the USA. This was followed by a two-year stint at Tiffany & Co. in Toronto, where Beenish dived deep into customer service and jewellery repair. Though seemingly routine, the experience proved to be invaluable \u2014 it allowed her to work on exquisite pieces and collaborate with talented technicians.<\/p>\n \u201cThis exposure not only familiarised me with Tiffany\u2019s contemporary and vintage designs but also highlighted the emotional significance of jewellery, echoing sentiments from my own cultural background, where jewellery symbolises memories and relationships,\u201d she points out. Marriage and a kid followed, and her dream had to take a pause. The subsequent loss of her parents saw her seek solace in art and design; \u201cit was cathartic in many ways,\u201d Beenish remarks.<\/p>\n Her namesake brand, launched a year ago, features designs referencing the stories of Shahrazad in One Thousand and One Nights. It was a \u201cmeticulously illustrated\u201d early edition of One Thousand and One Nights, a gift from her beloved father, which served as her \u201cgateway to a realm of wonder.\u201d<\/p>\n Beenish, also a poet, began to weave tangible tales through words and gold. She drew on her rich Eastern heritage for the creations, employing marquetry, mosaic, and enamel alongside hand-carved gemstones. \u201cI also infuse my pieces with a deep-rooted sense of emotion and boldness, making each element essential to the narrative,\u201d explains the jeweller.<\/p>\n Her debut collection, though, evolved from a poem that she penned for her son, titled The Secret Garden<\/em> \u2014 a tribute to life\u2019s perpetual cycle of creation, farewells, and rebirth.<\/p>\n \u00a0The Secret Garden<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n You are my garden of secrets For my Pasha<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cBy incorporating childlike entrancing shapes and lines, I aim to evoke the magical memories of my life filled with innocence, romance, and whimsy. As my collection and brand evolves, you will see bolder, more organic shapes symbolising my growth and transformation,\u201d she points out.<\/p>\n Oftentimes, nature becomes the muse: the Wildflower Ring, for instance, began with a simple idea that blossomed into a piece replete with elaborate detailing. The ring was carved in wax and then transformed into a sterling silver mould. Further details were added to enhance the texture of the petals and the stem. \u201cI wanted it to be a living, breathing entity that sits on the finger in all its glory. With each detail perfected, it was then cast into 20 grams of 18-karat yellow gold. The beautiful black diamonds in the flower\u2019s stamens and the white diamonds in the stem were the final touches incorporated before the ring was polished,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n While she purchases all the significant gems for her work, sometimes a stunning stone serendipitously comes into her possession and becomes the focal point around which the design evolves. It\u2019s not just about value, but what the stone communicates to her that guides the creations.<\/p>\n \u201cI source most of my sapphires from Thailand, South Sea pearls from Australia, and cultured pearls and coral from Japan. My main source for uniquely carved gemstones is, of course, India. I get several unusual and stunning stones from Pakistan \u2014 amethyst, every kind of tourmaline, topaz and turquoise, not to mention the most ridiculously stunning emeralds.\u201d Supporting local small industries is important to this emerging Pakistani-Pashtun designer, as she strives \u2014 in a myriad of ways \u2014 to preserve the wealth of craftsmanship available in the UAE.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Dubai-based jewellery designer, Beenish Mahmood, is committed to transforming her childhood fascination with jewellery into a promising career. From her education in haute couture to her successful pivot into jewellery design, Beenish\u2019s journey is a testament to her passion and craftsmanship. Beenish Mahmood was raised in a world that she describes as \u201cbrimming with enchantment.\u201d…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":25417,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[99,104],"tags":[],"thb-sponsors":[],"class_list":["post-25416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-design","category-features"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gjepc.org\/solitaire\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Dragonfly.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gjepc.org\/solitaire\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Leaf-necklace.jpg\")
\nMy oasis of dreams
\nWhere I plant my jewels
\nWater them with hope
\nI nurture you with words of love
\nBathe you in the colours of creation
\nShape you with wisdom of the ages
\nGive shelter as you bloom and thrive
\nMy beautiful sapling my greatest treasure
\nWith the heart of a warrior and the soul of a poet
\nWho will flourish and grow into a great tree
\nOne day in turn you will bestrew your seeds
\nAnd my magic garden will live on forever<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gjepc.org\/solitaire\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/The-Parrot-necklace.jpg\")
\nWhile all the pieces are made in the United Arab Emirates, she collaborates with independent craftsmen internationally for specific artisanal work. \u201cI work mainly with smaller workshops since I appreciate the intimate atmosphere they provide and value the close relationships that I\u2019ve built with these artisans who share my dedication to the final product,\u201d says Beneesh.<\/p>\n