The designer first discovered her talent for jewellery while studying for an Art Foundation at Central Saint Martins in London. She went on to gain a BFA in Jewellery & Metalsmithing at the renowned Rhode Island School of Design, where she specialised in design innovation and developed her unique making process. Alexandra Hakim launched her eponymous brand in Beirut Lebanon in 2016, and immediately made waves on the jewellery scene, infiltrating and gaining the respect of the predominantly male industry of craftsmen and goldsmiths thanks to her technical prowess and inspired methods.
THE PROCESS
Whether discovering the desolate shores of Lebanon’s polluted coastline, obsessing over colourful foods in Mexico City’s markets or exploring the vibrant citrus groves of the Mediterranean, Alexandra Hakim’s extensive travels and artistic eye mean that she finds inspiration everywhere – as well as the materials for her jewellery. Her signature method involves casting found objects and used materials directly into precious metals so that nothing is wasted and each piece is completely unique.
“The idea of creating something new is what drives me to work harder every day—and this applies not only to fresh designs, but also to innovative techniques. I studied Jewellery & Metalsmithing at Central Saint Martins and the Rhode Island School of Design, where I was always encouraged to think outside the box. When I finally moved into my studio (which is now my second home), I found myself experimenting with bits and pieces around my workbench—everything from sandpaper shards and spent matchsticks to gold dust. I discovered a way of turning them into cool, contemporary pieces of jewellery—and I never looked back. Ever since, my focus has been on giving a new lease of life to found materials and objects in the form of precious jewellery. And the best part is that it’s naturally zero-waste and sustainable, plus each piece is unique.”
Alexandra Hakim, Vanity Fair, 2020
BRAND INSPIRATION
Alexandra Hakim’s collections give a new lease of life to found materials and objects which would otherwise go to waste. Inspirations as varied as tomato stems from Beirut’s bustling markets and spent matchsticks found at home are repurposed into striking, contemporary pieces of jewellery. Spearheading sustainability long before it became a trend, each of Alexandra Hakim’s pieces are meticulously made by hand, completely unique and naturally zero-waste.