I’m Paula Zagalo, the designer and maker behind Masaari, an independent contemporary jewellery studio based in Portugal.
My background in design has shaped the way I look at the world. I’ve always been drawn to materials, their textures, colours, imperfections and the possibilities they hold.
Over the years, my travels have taken me to places where I’ve discovered and collected unusual materials, often without knowing exactly what they would become.
Amber, dark woods, reclaimed coral, bone, pearls and silver. Each material has its own character, and that is usually where a piece begins.
Every Masaari piece is designed and handcrafted by me in my studio, either as a one of a kind creation or in very small editions.
For me, jewellery is more than something we wear. It’s a way of bringing together materials, places, memories and a personal way of seeing the world.
That is what Masaari is about.