The Story Behind Mahina

One unexpected conversation in New Zealand became the inspiration behind Mahina.

One day while I was exploring, I stopped to ask a lady for directions. We ended up chatting for a little while and when she mentioned she was a local, I asked if she knew where I could buy a genuine piece of jade.

She smiled and said,

"Pounamu isn't something you go looking for. It's something that finds you."

She explained that in Māori culture, jade is believed to choose its owner. If you're lucky enough to find a piece, it's said to have found you for a reason.

I remember thinking, that's beautiful.

I thanked her and went on with my day.

Later that afternoon, I pulled over at a place I can't even remember the name of.

It wasn't somewhere I'd planned to visit. I just saw the view and felt like stopping.

There was a crystal-clear river flowing into the ocean, black sand beneath my feet, and mountains stretching across the horizon. It was one of those places where time seemed to slow down.

I wandered along the beach for a while.

Just as I was about to leave, something caught my eye.

There was a dark stone sitting half buried in the sand.

I picked it up, walked over to the water and rinsed it off.

It was jade.

I honestly couldn't believe it.

The first thing that came into my mind was what that lady had told me only a few hours earlier.

Even now, every time I tell this story I still get goosebumps.

Maybe it was just coincidence.

Or maybe some things really do have a way of finding us when we least expect them.

When I started working on this collection, I kept thinking about that afternoon.

The soft green tones naturally reminded me of the jade.

The flowing shapes were inspired by the river meeting the ocean.

And the intricate patterns reflect the quiet beauty of the place where it all happened.

That's how Mahina came to life.

Mahina will always remind me that sometimes the best memories are the ones we never planned for.

I hope that wherever life takes you, this rug becomes part of your own story too.

With love,

Simona ♡