Interview Mayrena Paris

Passion for the material and minimalism: this is undoubtedly where the origin of Mayrena Paris creations lies. Alexandra David, founder and creator of the brand, drew her inspiration from her journey of nature, art, design and travel. The result ? Jewels designed in their entirety and their reversibility to be then created with respect for the material. Discover the history of the Mayrena Paris brand through the confidences of its founder at Label AÉ.

Can you introduce yourself in a few words?

My name is Alexandra and I am of Norman origin. I did all my higher education at La Cambre which is an art and design school in Brussels. I specialized in industrial design and after this Bachelor, I went to Rotterdam. There I worked for different studios. It was just as good in design studios for gallery furniture or for publishers. I also worked for a furniture maker. There it was more manual work with resin, we made furniture and lights for Sabrine Marcelis. These different experiences have guided me quite a bit in my world because it is true that Holland has something very minimalist about it. They really have their style and I think that influenced me a lot.

After 2 years in Rotterdam, I returned to Paris and started to create my brand in 2018. But the adventure had already started in 2015. I had released my first bracelet from a scrap of metal. I wanted to make a classic bracelet and then I realized that it did not give at all what I wanted and therefore, by an error, I arrived at the bracelet which is called The origin. Friends saw it and that’s how I started getting orders. Women wanted to wear it so I started doing it, just for fun. When I returned to Paris I said to myself: why not push it a little further? From there I developed a whole range of jewelry. This is how Mayrena Paris was born.

What does Mayrena mean?

Mayrena is an origin. My sister has a hotel called Mayrena. It is a family name that dates back and is no longer used today, but it is part of our roots. I found the name to be very feminine. I liked the sound of this word and I found it to correspond well for a brand of jewelry. The name also echoes my first piece of jewelry, The Origin.

What are your main sources of inspiration?

They are many ! I was born in Normandy in an equestrian world and since I was little I have been riding. My dad also rides every weekend and competes. I have always loved all of this metal equipment. At the beginning I diverted them a bit to make them accessories and I think that inspired me a lot.
Then there is also Holland where I found myself in a very minimalist universe. There, we like to do very simple things and stay focused. This minimalism has been a great source of inspiration for me.
Otherwise I feed on art. There are things that I like like Ian Art or Brâncuși. Even though it’s not things that look like what I do, there is both this vocabulary of very geometric shapes and also a bit random for Ian Art.
But above all, I think that my inspirations come a lot by doing, that is to say that I try, and it is often by mistakes that I arrive on forms that I like. It’s by trying, redoing, evolving each shape and moving from 2D to 3D that I reach those shapes..

How did you come up with the idea of ​​offering double-sided jewelry ?

As I was originally an object designer, I always design an object in its entirety. Usually there is no hidden side. When I draw a table, for example, we see it from all angles: it’s the same idea for the jewel !

How does a typical day go in your workshops ?

They are very varied ! (laughs) It really depends on the periods. I’m a bit of a dabbler and that’s also what I love : I do photography, as well as communication or creation. I have people to help me, but I’m the one who runs the entire business.

Regarding the creation, there is first a whole work of research and drawing : as soon as I have an inspiration I note it. Then in general, I make the prototype in my workshop and it is often by working directly with the material that I achieve what I want. It is really with the material that I evolve. After this step, I have the jewel tested by those around me and thanks to that I make the first prototype which leads to something more precise. From there I switch to 3D software that allows me to go very precisely to adjust the details. Finally, following this step, I send my 3D to the manufacturer who brings out the final prototype in his workshop. There is also some of the jewelry that I make myself. If it is lost wax, it is the workshop with which I work that manufactures it, if not all that is shaped as a wire, it is me who does it in my workshops.

We can see that you have a particular relationship to matter. Can you tell us what are your favorite materials ?

When I was in Bachelor I always worked with metal, I don’t know why. As soon as I had to imagine something I saw it in metal ! It’s a subject that has always interested me. Then I worked with wax because it’s more appropriate, but I switched to brass straight away. Now… I love silver ! I find that with silver there is a suppleness that brass does not have. This flexibility makes it possible to achieve more precisely what you want by cutting it, by heating it, by hammering it … It is a very nice material to work with and it has really become the material through which I go. before taking out all my tests!

What do you think is timeless fashion ?

It’s something very simple and not flashy at all. It’s something that is very discreet and at the same time still present but with very refined shapes. It is to go to the essential in the design.

Why did you choose the Label AÉ to represent your brand ?

I really liked their selection of jewelry. I like the way they showcase their creators. I also like their communication, they have a very beautiful aestheticism which I immediately liked.