D
esigner of Maor, Maor Cohen, takes the same approach to jewelry design that he does to his life as a whole. Drawn to creating jewelry at a young age, Maor began making and selling jewelry in his seaside village in Israel when he was 13. In his early 20’s, Maor, who was already an avid surfer, decided to take a one-year sabbatical to surf around the world, bringing with him a box of beads and wires with which he would craft pieces to gift to kindred spirits he met throughout his travels.
While his designs have evolved since launching his first business in 2009, the essential elements of intentionality and thoughtfulness remain core tenets of the brand.
When he landed in Los Angeles, Maor realized that California felt like home, so he planted roots and settled into his new West Coast life. It was shortly after he officially planted roots in LA that he rediscovered his box of beads and wire and was reminded of his love for craftsmanship and creation. He soon began making pieces as gifts for his friends and family before eventually turning his personal pursuit into a business.
First catering to men, which was, at the time, an underserved market for jewelry, Maor wanted to give the stylishly inclined options for expressing themselves through adornment. Looking at jewelry as “removable tattoos ,” he designed pieces that were both versatile and expressive and did not adhere to the confines of convention. Citing his lifelong connection with the ocean (he’s still an avid surfer!) and nature as key sources of inspiration, those initial collections seamlessly blended colorful beads full of meaning with sterling silver in stackable suites that allowed collectors of his work to build their own individual style statement.
While his designs have evolved since launching his first business in 2009, the essential elements of intentionality and thoughtfulness remain core tenets of the brand. 15 years later, Maor is still perceptively attuned with the continual evolution of style, and he creates work that is timeless, but with a modern twist.
A prolific creative, his unisex collections effortlessly mix 18k gold, .925 silver, colored gemstones and diamonds. Just like the daily ensembles Maor puts together to express himself and proclaim his space in the world, his jewelry is meant to be built upon in purposeful stacks and layers.
A skilled bench jeweler, Maor’s work is made by hand in his Los Angeles studio. Devoted to keeping his fellow Angelenos fashionable, in addition to working with retailers from across the globe, he also has a flagship store in West Hollywood.
This bespoke environment pays homage to Maor’s influences, with limited edition mirror sculptures, a “chandelier” of plants, elegant details like sleek, custom made cases, warm, flattering lighting and a chill vibe. Boasting a long list of celebrity clients, Maor’s jewelry has cross-cultural and cross-gender appeal and is the perfect punctuation to a multitude of aesthetic sensibilities.