Revitalizing the ancient with NIBIRU
NIBIRU, founded in 2019 by Chilean designer Marcela Mayorga de Meignan, draws deeply from ancient mysticism and cultural heritage. Inspired by her roots and the legends surrounding ancient civilizations, Mayorga de Meignan’s work is a fusion of past and present.
Based in Milan, Mayorga de Meignan’s bold, eclectic designs embody a unique narrative that bridges the mystical and the modern. Joins us as she tells us about her creative process, her beginnings and life story and how she navigates her multidisciplinary background.
Can you tell us more about your background and how your Chilean-Italian heritage influences your jewelry designs?
Of course it has influenced me, I find most of my inspiration in mystic places and stories. And my native country is full of it. A big side of my work resides in the research of ancient cultures, such as the Mayas in Atitlan Lake which was one of the biggest inspirations for the creation of my brand. In 2020 during the pandemic I went to live in my home town beach home Pingueral in the center south of Chile. It faced the sea. I got really interested in the stories including the ocean such as mermaids, ancient titans and gods of sea and it has now become an important part of my inspirations that’s why there’s this mermaid touch in NIBIRU Patrimony.
What inspired you to establish the NIBIRU jewelry house in 2019, and why did you choose Milan as your base?
In 2019 this brand was established in Milan where I lived for over 5 years with nothing but a lot of positive energy, creativity and most of all FAITH, and right after I launched I was selected by Vanity Fair London as new young jeweller.
Your designs are inspired by the Anunnaki and ancient Sumerian gods. What drew you to these particular themes, and how do you incorporate them into your pieces?
The Name NIBIRU comes from an ancient alien planet where the Anunakis were from. Many legends and theories have been made about this celestial body and it is known to have a huge power over civilisations. The Annunakis were the first visitors and creators on Earth. In those times where the past has become an inspiration because of how incertain the future is, learning from these ancient civilisations who were so futuristic and modern, these populations who achieved so many insane things such as the pyramids of Egypt or The City of Babylonia is just so interesting and fascinating. I think that Nibiru as a planet, is the center of all this powerful energy and my goal with NIBIRU Patrimony is to transliterate this spirit in my jewels. Patrimony is the heritage of these civilisations that lives in and with us everyday. I like to see them as guides or gods, however you want to call them. This is the patrimony of this Faith they have felt in us humans as we are their descendants.
Can you walk us through your creative process from the initial concept to the final product? You use a mix of precious and semiprecious stones along with gold – what is your sourcing process?
I recycle pieces from the past to create new life amulets. In fact, I created my first jewels for NIBIRU Ancestral jewelry with a 30 gram gold bracelet from my mother that I melted to make my first trilogy collection. I believe gold can be reused and given a bigger intention.
I started working with renders thanks to my architect friend Saskia who has helped me a lot in the development of my pieces in 3D. This technique is a very futuristic way of creating new designs as I can change live stones or shapes.
As a multidisciplinary artist, fashion producer, and editor of Regia Magazine, how do these roles influence your approach to jewelry design?
I try to push the moments to get the best of them, like when I am doing a fashion shoot I always bring my jewelry so that it can be part of the editorial. I think that it helps me so much to have the editor side that gives me the power to decide what is the styling of every shot and also the fact that I decide the casting of talents in the way that I select the pieces that they wear. That's fantastic!
Your work is described as flamboyant and talismanic with an eclectic flavor. How do you maintain a cohesive brand identity while embracing such diverse influences?
I believe that my pieces are constantly defining a different era, a different moment of my life and point of view. Sometimes I’m inspired by the ocean or by the sky or by the ancient civilizations from Latin America and the Middle East. But [my pieces] always keep the same royal heavy and curious aspect that connects them all together. 
What's one lesson you've learned from a challenge you faced in your career?
I would say that the commercial side for me came very late in my career. I wasn’t interested in that but it was because I was not educated in school and then in university, I did fashion design of accessories, journalism, fashion producing, branding, art, but never business. Maybe it was ok the way that I evolved into learning this in an intuitive way but I would have loved to study business before.
