Margherita Abi Hanna - Lebanon
Margherita Abi Hanna
Designer biography:
Margherita Abi-Hanna is a contemporary jewelry designer known for her structural lines and architectural details. Handcrafted in collaboration with local jewelry artisans, each piece in her collection embodies bold, fashion-forward style while maintaining a timeless appeal that transcends trends. Her work has gained both regional and global recognition through competitions, showcases and numerous magazine and book features. Inspired by the vibrant city of Beirut, where she is currently based, Margherita draws upon its complexity and rich cultural heritage to fuel her creative process. With a background in graphic design from the American University of Beirut and accessories design from Domus Academy, she continuously seeks out dialogues with local designers, and artists from diverse fields. These collaborations challenge her own practices, enrich her creative vocabulary, and foster a supportive community. Margherita’s passion extends beyond creating visually striking jewelry, she draws inspiration from cross-disciplinary sources. Through her work, she aims to ignite conversations and inspire others to rethink their relationship with fashion and jewelry. One way she sustains this exchange is by teaching contemporary jewelry design at the American University of Beirut.
Collection concept:
Drawing inspiration from her surroundings, Margherita noticed the prevalence of Claustra in her city and developed a deep fondness for this modular architectural phenomenon. Inspired by her previous success in utilizing modular and stackable elements, she envisioned depicting Claustra in the realm of jewelry. The project not only draws inspiration from the captivating aesthetics of Claustra but also showcases Margherita's unique design process and her commitment to creating cohesive and innovative jewelry pieces. Margherita begins her design journey by immersing herself in the urban landscape, capturing photographs of various Claustra patterns found in Beirut. These photographs serve as a foundation for her creative exploration. She prints the images and meticulously sketches the patterns, capturing every detail. From there, she moves into a process of decomposition, carefully dissecting the initial block and isolating the elements that resonate with her the most. This phase of exploration allows her to extract the most interesting and captivating aspects of the Claustra patterns. Gradually, Margherita transitions from traditional paper sketching to digital tools, creating 3D renderings that refine the forms and work at the appropriate scale for jewelry. Through her unique design process, Margherita not only pays homage to Claustra but also translates its architectural beauty into wearable art. The Claustra-inspired jewelry collection showcases the artist's dedication to capturing the essence of her surroundings and transforming it into elegant and distinctive pieces. The designs are transformed into tangible pieces by a skilled network of small-scale jewelers. The jewelers employ traditional casting techniques to recreate the intricate details and architectural elements in sterling silver.
