Middle Eastern architecture has long been a source of inspiration for the UAE’s creatives. Reinterpretations of traditional design elements are to be found everywhere – in the public spaces of hotels and restaurants, in contemporary works of art and in the design of jewellery, clothing, furniture and home accessories.
Jagged Studios has become the latest brand to take its cues from the region’s distinctive architecture, with the creation of a fun collection of home accessories. The company was founded by two friends, Pilar Yamila Iskenderov Bonilla, who’s Colombian-Azerbaijani, but moved to the UAE at the age of 7, and Sevan Manjikian, who’s originally Armenian, but born and raised in Dubai.
The two met at school, and kept in touch when their university studies took them to opposite ends of the globe. A few years later, they both returned to Dubai, with a new appreciation of the region’s architectural merits. “Having moved back to Dubai after living in London for seven years, I thought it would be great to somehow pay tribute to the rich Middle Eastern culture and showcase it. Middle Eastern architecture in itself is so varied and abundant, it’s a great concept to explore and create,” Bonilla says.
Manjikian, who has a background in interior design, wanted to explore the idea of creating smaller everyday objects for the home that drew from the architecture of the region. “After living abroad for seven years, I saw the Middle East with a fresh perspective when I moved back. I was really intrigued by vernacular architecture and Islamic geometric patterns. So I began researching online, reading books and even going around to take inspiration photos of building facades, patterns and forms.”
The brand launched online with a 15-piece collection called Girih, which translates from Arabic as “knot”. It features clocks, bookends, trays, napkin holders, shelves, prints and notebooks, which are all designed and made in the UAE, and offer a pared-down, highly contemporary take on traditional geometric motifs. There’s a minimalist, almost Scandinavian feel to the products, which is a direct antithesis to the ornate aesthetic traditionally found in such designs.
The products are predominantly made from metal, although the duo are keen to experiment with other materials. “I previously designed a line of laser-cut jewellery back in Melbourne, where I used wood and acrylic. I wanted to experiment with something different for this and metal was the best suited for these particular products. Eventually, I’d love to start integrating a few other materials in future designs,” Manjikian says.
The range has recently been extended – the Mint Girih line “introduces a beautiful pastel mint colour to our debut collection. This collection includes five new designs, which consist of coasters, candle holders, trays, napkin holders and platters,” Manjikian explains.
The focus now is on getting the word out and looking for retail partners, as well as experimenting with new ideas for the next line of products. On thing is for sure – Middle Eastern architecture will continue to be a major source of inspiration for Jagged Studios.
“The Middle East is quite vast and each region has something different to offer in terms of architectural history, so I’m excited to keep researching and drawing inspiration from different aspects of Middle Eastern architecture,” Manjikian says.
sdenman@thenational.ae
For more information, visit www.jaggedstudios.com.
