Creative Mind: Jaimal Odedra

Necklaces crafted by Jaimal Odedra. Photo: Arian Camilleri

The work of Jaimal Odedra may be rooted in Moroccan tradition, but his rich background stretches much further than his current home in Marrakech. His diverse résumé—from Bollywood costume designer and creative director to fashion designer at Rick Owens and Givenchy in Paris and Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren in New York—has led to myriad fantastical pursuits.

There’s his new line of bronze jewelry, beloved for its simple, organic shapes, and his recent show at local Galerie Tindouf of color-rich, soul-stirring portraits of people Odedra encountered in Morocco and India. To craft his unique, deceptively heavy bronze pieces, which are available at Maison Gerard, he revitalized one of the few true foundries left in Morocco to resurrect ancient sand-casting techniques.

Jethi Vases. Photo: Matt Coats

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All Odedra’s pieces are handmade, and no two are alike. Some he polishes smooth, while for others he leaves the texture natural. For his ceramics, he works with another local group of artisans to create bowls in subtle, earthy shades that include a cluster inspired by the bamboo trees at Marrakech’s famed Majorelle Gardens. On top of all that, Odedra continues to collaborate with Owens on his line of home accessories and plots special projects with Michelle Lamy.

An installation view of “mon Maroc my India” by Jaimal Odedra at Galerie Tindouf. Photo: Courtesy of Galerie Tindouf

All these different projects may conjure the image of a scattered, frantic creative, but Odedra’s presence is as considered and thoughtful as the exquisite bronze bookmarks he crafted for the Yves Saint Laurent Museum’s gift shop.

Odedra’s Rupi Urn. Photo: Arian Camilleri

A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2019 Spring Issue under the headline Creative Minds. Subscribe to the magazine.