Some materials are beautiful.
Others seem almost alive.
Mother of Pearl has always fascinated me because it never looks quite the same twice. As light moves across its surface, soft iridescent colors quietly appear and disappear, revealing delicate shades that seem to change with every movement.
No two pieces are ever identical. Each one carries its own story, shaped by nature over time. I love that every tile holds a little of that individuality.
When I began creating Gigi and Alice in Mahjlan tiles, Mother of Pearl felt like the only material that could express what I wanted them to become. Gigi reflects timeless elegance. Alice captures imagination and wonder. Both celebrate beauty that reveals itself slowly, inviting you to look a little closer each time you play.
Only later did I smile at another connection. My name, Dora, means pearl in Arabic.
Perhaps that is why I have always been drawn to this remarkable material. Or perhaps it is simply a coincidence. Either way, it feels like a quiet reminder that some stories find us long before we know we are telling them.
