In her previous collections, Douniya Lahlou explored circles, a form that felt instinctive. They were all inspired by interchangeable watch dials from her youth. “The idea of changing the face while keeping the structure stayed with me, so the circle came naturally,” says the founder of Zei Jewels. With her new collection, Cubica, which features feature marine and botanical details in gold, she pivots into three dimensions — into volume, movement and architecture.
“With Cubica, I wanted to design three dimensionally. I also wanted more movement,” Douniya adds. “Instead of working on a flat surface, I wanted the piece to exist in space.” The cube became her answer, offering planes, corners and tension, while preserving her core idea of transformation. “The philosophy of interchangeability remained, but the expression became more sculptural.”
Interaction sits at the heart of Cubica: each modular cube is engineered to open and transform. Designed to be stacked, the top and bottom faces are partially concealed, focusing attention on the forward-facing planes, two of which are interchangeable. A discreet hinge allows the cube to open “like a small box.” Plates slide in and out before the mechanism disappears seamlessly back into place. “It was important for the interaction to feel intuitive, almost playful, while still being secure and refined,” the designer shares.
The idea found form during a trip to Japan, when she found herself turning a miniature Rubik’s Cube keychain in her hands. “I was drawn to the movement and the mechanics of it.” Cubica borrows that logic of rotation and reconfiguration, extending it through stackability.
Starting off with necklaces — with earrings, rings and bangles to follow — the collection took 10 months of development, much of it refining the mechanism to ensure it feels “smooth, secure, and easy-to-wear.” Made in Italy, Cubica strikes a delightful balance between toy and talisman.