ALANINA Jewelry Has Such A Distinctive Name — What’s The Story Behind It?
When I first established ALANINA in 2016, it was common for independent designers to name their brands after themselves. I felt strongly that a luxury jewelry brand should be more than just a name — it should be an extension of your identity, a way of seeing the world and moving through it.
ALANINA is a declaration of how I perceive jewelry: that luxury pieces should be as unique as the woman who wears them, as defining and idiosyncratic. That is why I chose my own nickname, “Nina”—expressed in French as À-la-Nina, meaning “Nina’s way.”
What First Drew You To Jewellery Design, And When Did You Know It Was Your Path?
My journey into jewelry design was deeply shaped by my upbringing, and especially by my mother. Growing up in Brazil, our home was filled with stones — amethyst birds, agate clocks, colorful geodes, and my mother’s crystal cabinet of carved butterflies and animals.
As a child, she would bring me along to stone collectors to handpick rare, vibrant gems to add to her personal collection. She also sketched her own designs, which she later brought to life through the expert hands of Lebanese jewelers. I still remember the joy on her face when she wore those one-of-a-kind creations.
Years later, after seven successful years in the banking sector in Lebanon, I felt drawn back to that world. I bought stones from the same suppliers my mother once did, sketched a few designs, and sold them to close friends.
Their joy reminded me of my mother, and it was at that moment I knew jewelry design was the path I wanted to pursue. That realization evolved into a mission to create exclusive and unconventional pieces that mirror the woman who wears them, who is often unlike anyone else.
How Would You Describe The DNA of ALANINA In Just A Few Words?
Through the language of jewelry, ALANINA fuses art and fashion, with bold statement pieces that empower women to walk through the world channelling their inner power.
Where Do You Find Inspiration For Your Collections?
I believe inspiration comes from the state I am in — the moment, the situation, the feeling. From there, I usually choose the theme that guides each collection. During Lebanon’s cultural apogee, I felt deeply drawn to its heritage and vibrant fashion scene. In 2018, this led me to create an entire collection inspired by Lebanese Haute Couture designers — and Neo Couture was born.
In 2020, amid the crisis and the long days of COVID lockdown, my escape was the sea. I spent hours walking along the shore, where the shifting shades of blue were the only thing bringing me peace. From that came the Ocean Shades collection.
This year, I launched a collection that is very close to my heart: SPIRALE. It was inspired by Lebanon’s recent events and hand-designed in the mountains, in moments of turbulence for the country. Each piece has an element of kinetic art; the way spiral movements shape us — pulling us back, then propelling us forward. It felt important for me to celebrate my country and its rich cultural heritage and artistry, especially at a time where my community needed it the most. The pieces are not only beautiful to look at, but they hold a deep symbolism. They spell out words of peace and hope in Arabic, carved into each piece in diamonds and gold. In that turbulent time, when my own emotions felt like spirals, I chose to transform those feelings into beauty — expressed through ALANINA SPIRALE, where jewelry becomes sculptural art. This collection was launched at Marc Hachem Gallery in Beirut, and has since been worn at Paris Fashion Week and Venice Film Festival, raising these messages to a global level.
Do You See Jewellery More As Adornment Or As An Extension of Identity?
It is an extension of identity — an expression of self. You can be dressed in the simplest outfit, revealing little about your style, your mind or approach to fashion, yet by adding just two or three pieces of jewelry, you immediately make a statement.
Jewelry speaks volumes about who you are and how you perceive the world. But it also has the power to shape you; to transform how you move, how you tell your own story, how you write your path.
What Role Does Craftmanship Play In Your Work?
Craftsmanship is intrinsic to our brand. Our clients are the most discerning individuals in the world – they choose ALANINA for our exclusivity, our designs, and our craft.
Every detail of an ALANINA piece has been shaped and refined into a flawless, enduring work of art by master artisans. From stone selection to finishing, our team has generations behind them, decades of expertise in this craft. I am proud that our pieces raise luxury pieces to a higher level; a place of art. My clients often come to me and tell me that they can feel the difference when they are wearing ALANINA, I believe that craftsmanship plays a great part in this.
Who Is The ALANINA Muse — The Person You Design For?
ALANINA jewelry is not for the “classical woman”; it is for women who are not afraid to tread new paths, to elevate the world around them, pioneering spaces and emboldening others – their mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends – to reach for more.
The ALANINA muse is someone who knows herself deeply, who is daring and unconventional in her choices. Our designs speak to that woman because she seeks out this particular kind of quality in how she moves through the world; in her fashion choices, her jewelry.
Has There Been A “Pinch Me” Moment In Your Career So Far?
I think each stage of ALANINA has its own “Pinch me” moment, from attending the biggest exhibitions in the world, to being entrusted with creating incredible bespoke pieces for some of the most influential families in the region.
A recent “Pinch me” moment was being able to dress Haifa Wehbe, who recently wore the pieces to celebrate the release of her new album “Mega Haifa”. Haifa is a global force – someone who revolutionised the music and fashion industry in the MENA region, and whom I deeply admire. She is an icon, and her distinctive lens on fashion is so unique and inspiring.
The images, styled by her stylist Georges Chamou, were a bold reminder of the ALANINA woman; fierce, unstoppable, always carving out new paths with a characteristic glamour and elegance.
What Makes ALANINA Different From Other Contemporary Jewellery Brands?
I think each jewelry brand has its own DNA and its own purpose. We are all different in a way, and when you are investing in pieces this is an important element to consider.
Our brand has a distinct lens: from the incredible women we design for, the bold, sculptural pieces we create, and the levels of quality and craftsmanship which raise global standards. More than anything, what separates us is how we see women; their achievements, their perspectives, they inner power, and how they accentuate these through the jewelry they wear. While heritage brands rely on their history, ALANINA occupies a distinct space: sculptural art with the very finest craftmanship that exists. We are building the future of statement jewelry for a new generation of collectors.
What’s Next For You And The Brand?
Our brand has been experiencing tremendous growth both locally in the Middle East and abroad. In the coming years, we will expand our bespoke atelier for collectors who are seeking one-of-a-kind pieces, and continue our growth across Europe and the Middle East
