Jewel Tree London

The founder & creative head, Deborah Vani Zama studied Industrial Design, specialising in Furniture Design at the National Institute of Design. It was here that she had the opportunity to immerse herself in a multi-disciplinary approach to design and problem solving, experimenting with materials and processes, forms and structures – from going on to win the De Beers Jewellery Design Award to being selected to showcase her concept garments for Fashion Week to being selected to study Japan's traditional craft villages, all whilst still a student of furniture design

After graduation, Zama spent years working closely with craft communities in India and Japan. She worked on numerous UNDP projects before she started dedicating more of her time to social and community projects with women self-help groups and developing sustainable income-generation projects. She eventually went on to set up a Bamboo & Textile unit, winning her a Women’s Entrepreneur award.

After marriage, Zama moved to New York where she worked with an interior-architecture firm. It was during this time that Zama developed her interest in jewellery through evenings spent at a local studio in the lower East side. Originally a hobby to “keep my hands busy”, Zama was encouraged by the strong interest in her personally crafted pieces but little did she know that all those compliments would years later translate into Jewel Tree London.

Now established in London, Zama spends her time travelling between Amsterdam, Nagoya and India, honing her craft and planning her next collection.