This week, we chat with Lily Nizam, Founder of Mazin Jewels. Loved by celebrities all around the world, the collection exude a timeless elegance.
Welcome to the Emirates Woman weekly series ‘How I got my job as…’ where we speak to some incredible entrepreneurs and businesswomen both based in the UAE and globally to find out about their career paths that led them to where they are now; what their daily routines look like; the advice they’d give to those starting out; and the hurdles they’ve had to overcome.
For any minimalist’s dream, Mazin Jewels focuses on creating timeless pieces that are both effortless and elegant. The pieces have even been spotted on celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Alex Morgan and more.
To delve into Nizam’s story as an entrepreneur, Emirates Woman sat down with her to see how it all began.
What was your favourite subject at school?
My favorite subject was history. I was always curious about ancient Egypt.
What was your first job?
My first job was in retail which is where I was first introduced to the importance of the customer experience. This is something that carried with me to the present.
What brought you to Dubai?
Dubai is the fashion hub of the Middle East and the presence of any brand here is extremely important.
What inspired you to enter the space and your brand?
I worked in Fashion PR representing jewellery clients where I really developed a knack for generating press for brands. I always had friends tell me that I should start my own jewelry line because of my experience in the industry. When covid hit, I found myself with plenty of free time on my hands and decided to start researching what it would take to start a brand. Eventually, I set up everything I needed to get the brand going. I did everything on my own including creating the website and purchasing platform, etc. Once I felt like it was the right time, I pulled the trigger and officially launched the brand. I didn’t set any expectations and thought of it as a fun little project at the time. Luckily, the project exceeded what I could have ever expected for it.
Talk us through the concept?
Mazin Jewels is a brand that was created to fit the jewelry needs of every woman no matter their age or style. When I started the brand, I noticed there wasn’t a brand that had a piece of jewelry to fit those needs. For example, some days I prefer to have a simple look with simple pieces of jewelry that I can layer. On other days, while going out with friends or to a fun dinner, I might try an edgier look with a bold ear cuff and a chunky chain necklace. Mazin Jewels strives to be the brand where you can find all of those pieces in one place.
What are the key elements of your role?
As the founder of the brand, my key role is to ensure the proper and continued growth of the brand. I spend quite a bit of time working on PR and branding as well.
Talk us through your daily routine.
Every day is so different. However, I have to start my day with a cup of black tea followed by a solid skincare routine. Some days I’ll have early morning meetings with my ad team to discuss additional opportunities for growth. On any other given day, I will be working with the design team to approve new designs we have in the works, checking on inventory of current stock, discussing the brand with editors or stylists, working on content creation, and much more. I like to end my day with a pilates class. I also started this during covid and it kept me in a positive routine.
What advice do you have for anyone looking to follow in the same footsteps?
To be committed and stay committed. Starting and owning a business takes an extraordinary amount of work with many hurdles that come along the way. You have to be ready for those challenges, but know that there will be many rewarding moments as well!
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Tell us more about the products?
Our products include everything from earrings, ear cuffs, rings, necklaces and bracelets. Our bestselling pieces our the ones that add a bit of bling to your wardrobe like the Pave Snake Ring or the Iced Baguette Necklace. Our key goal is to keep everything under $100 (Dhs400) to allow access to everyone interested in our pieces.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Be comfortable with being uncomfortable!
And what is the worst?
To give up if things get really hard.
What’s the biggest challenge you have had to overcome?
Dealing with unpredictability and being ready to take on any new issue that may arise.
What’s lies ahead for the brand?
The brand has really transformed and grown over the last year and we are so grateful to everyone that has supported us from the beginning. We hope to keep that momentum going and continue to grow our customer base and reach. Keep an eye.
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