“I've always been drawn to geometric, angular forms; likely influenced by growing up around my father, an architect. I believe our surroundings inevitably seep into our work. The mind absorbs what it sees and expresses it, often without us even realizing.”
THE DESIGNER
Margherita Abi-Hanna (you can call me Ghita) is a contemporary jewelry designer whose work explores the relationship between architecture, the city, and wearable objects.
With a BA in Graphic Design from the American University of Beirut and a Master’s in Accessories Design from Domus Academy in Milan, Margherita found her way back to Beirut through its architecture. Searching for a sense of belonging to her own city, she began looking more closely at its built environment. Through this process of translating architectural details into pieces she could wear, she found a way to reconnect with Beirut and reconcile with her place within it.
THE WORK
Inspired by Beirut’s architectural landscape, Margherita’s work is also driven by a desire to draw attention to the city’s built heritage, particularly its often-overlooked modernist architecture. By transforming architectural elements into wearable objects, she seeks to document fragments of a changing urban landscape and give them a new life beyond their original context. Her jewelry becomes a way of inviting a closer look at the spaces around us and encouraging a renewed appreciation for the architectural identity that shapes our collective memory.
THE PRACTICE
Margherita works in close collaboration with local jewelry artisans, combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design. Her practice is enriched by exchanges with designers and artists across disciplines, while her teaching of contemporary jewelry design at the American University of Beirut extends her commitment to experimentation, dialogue, and knowledge-sharing.