Wanderlust Meets Art with ZM Collections

Summer is fleeting, yet the feelings that summer evokes can last all year. The salty smell of the sea, sunny days spent under the hot sun, warm sand between your toes, and the chance to explore and be one with nature are some of the reasons that the summer months feel magical. In May 2017, ZM Collections was born; channeling the utopian summer feeling through art and design.

The Cairo based company creates unique jewelry that aims to turn nature’s treasures into wanderlust inspiring pieces. The inspiration is simple yet profound—taking nature’s raw beauty and translating it into works of art that people can wear.

Zeina Madwar is the creative inspiration behind the designs at ZM Collections. Zeina holds a Fine Arts degree from École Parsons à Paris and has worked with multiple mediums over the years including photography, sculpture, painting, and video installation. She is internationally renowned having participated in several collective art exhibitions including Aesthetics of the Nude juried by Christian Louboutin in 2013, She Tells an exhibit that was part of Cairo Photo Week in 2018, and Sculpture Now an exhibit with the Faculty of Fine Arts in Alexandria, Egypt.

In her personal artist statement featured on the ZM website,Zeina said, “Art has an awakening capacity; it can be a way of giving out a message, sharing personal stories and saying what is unsaid.  I utilize the element of my discretion in my art by revealing the duality of danger and fragility. My main preoccupation is dealing with the idea of testimony, as well as taking a critical view of social and cultural issues.”  Zeina sat down with Flair Magazine to discuss her brand and what the future looks like for ZM Collections.

What was your inspiration behind creating your brand? 

I’m a visual artist, and I’ve worked with mediums like ceramics, bronze, and paintings in the past. All of my art concepts revolve around the idea of nature and its rawness. The idea behind ZM’s story and the brand were both inspired by travel. I wanted to create something where we can share these experiences, keep these memories saved forever and create a connection that would accompany us wherever we go.

Where did it all start?

It all started in Morocco. After my friends and I finished exploring Marrakech, Fes, and Chefchaouen, we decided to hike up the waterfalls of Akchour. We wanted to escape the city for just a little bit and connect to nature on a deeper level. And so the idea came to me right there, in the middle of nature, and my first pieces were made with small flowers preserved from Akchour.

There is a huge wanderlust vibe that is a big part of your jewelry, how does travel influence your designs?

Travel is the center of ZM—it’s where it was born and where it continues to grow. The brand encourages travel and exploring beyond our comfort zones to find ourselves. It’s not about where you go. It doesn’t matter if you take a 20-hour plane to an exotic island in the Pacific, or go on a one-hour road trip to the depth of the desert to you. To travel is to honor our mother nature, allowing her to feed and nurture us from the inside out. Every ZM piece is like a little locket for that travel experience you have, so you can carry it back to your busy life and still feel connected to the wonderful, therapeutic experiences you once had.

What materials do you use to create your jewelry?

I create my jewelry using brass and sterling silver and preserve the plants and shells in resin.

Where do you go to for inspiration when trying to design a new collection?

When designing new collections, I always revert back to nature. It’s where it all started, and will always be where I find the next big thing for ZM. We lead very busy lives, where we often forget to connect with our senses, where we get to take a deep breath and feel blessed to be alive.

What new ideas or collections are you looking to launch in 2020?

We will be launching a new collection soon that raises awareness about preserving our oceans and recycling. While searching for ZM inspiration in nature, I’m constantly exposed to the depletion of our planet. There is so much rubbish in our oceans that it both frustrates and saddens me. I owe a lot to nature—my entire brand is an ode to the man-earth relationship. I want people to be aware of the sanctity of nature, and I know I can spread my awareness through my jewelry.

Amy N. Pugsley