Interview: Maria Tash

Where does your love for jewellery come from?



My love for jewellery is an integral part of my personality. As a child I was fascinated by my mother's jewellery box and loved to go through all her necklaces, much to her amusement.

I remember as a child drawing flowers on paper napkins, and my mother taking me to her jewellery-making class in the evening, where I hammered designs onto bangles. As a young teenager, I wound wire into multi-finger rings, and even crocheted a metal purse.

I was fascinated by the music and aesthetics of gothic, new-wave and punk culture, when multiple lobe, cartilage or nostril piercings were a sign of social status. In my late teens, I had numerous earlobe and cartilage piercings and had my nostril pierced twice, while regularly sticking a gemstone in my belly button (long before piercings there).

I have been fortunate enough to visit great museums, admire historic jewellery and attend fine jewellery shows in Manhattan; all experiences that have cultivated my interest and guided my evolution in jewellery.

© Maria Tash

What are the big piercing must-haves for this season? 



I think the new piercings I patented, the Tash Helix℠ and the Tash Hidden Rook℠, are fabulous and unusual. These models have a playful personality that will appeal to customers looking for originality. For those who love earlobe designs, a second piece of jewellery with an upper lobe piercing adds a modern touch. I am also proud to note the increasing number of people skilfully playing around with my 'floating' creations, whose patented hinge mechanism allows a diamond to hang from a nail in a delicate movement. 

Your brand's expertise in custom-made piercings is back at Le Bon Marché. What does our department store mean to you?  

I am delighted to be back, permanently, at Le Bon Marché! I had a great time in our pop-up shop before the pandemic, and I'm honoured that my designs are now permanently featured there, with a large space on the second floor for my talented team. This department store is a true icon in Paris and it is a privilege to be part of the experience. 

As a New Yorker, what is your favourite place in Paris?

I love historical monuments and, having spent so much time in New York, I never tire of looking at the rich and refined facades of Parisian buildings, the arches, gold and gilding of a bygone era. And of course, the food is incredibly good! 

© Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche