What happens when poetry meets gold, and when a love story transforms into a fine jewelry maison? This is the spirit of Tanka & Baroque, a brand born from the creative vision of Ingie Oda Pacha and the strategic mind of her husband Fouad Mazen. Together, they weave artistry, heritage, and emotion into jewels that are as timeless as they are meaningful. From sapphires in step cuts to the whispers of Japanese Tanka poetry, their creations celebrate the strength, beauty, and individuality of phenomenal women. As the maison begins to shape its identity in the fine jewelry world, Ingie and Fouad share the inspirations, philosophy, and vision behind Tanka & Baroque—one jewel at a time.
Could you please introduce yourselves and tell us who are the people behind Tanka & Baroque?
Tanka & Baroque was co-founded by married couple Fouad Mazen & Ingie Oda Pacha.Passion driven, Ingie is the creative spirit of the maison. She leads the design, storytelling and artistic direction of the brand. Fouad brings the essential structure behind the artistry. With his background in finance and operations, he ensures that every creation not only shines in craftsmanship but also thrives as part of a sustainable and ambitious business.
Where did the idea of creating this brand originate, and what inspired you toembark on this journey together?
The idea of Tanka & Baroque grew very organically out of who we are. I had already been working alongside other fine jewelry designers, learning and shaping my own creative voice, while Fouad had his own relationship with gold. He has always loved it, not only for its beauty but also for its strength and permanence. For years, he invested in gold believing in its value and in what it represents. When we brought these two worlds together, my passion for design and storytelling, and his deep belief in the timelessness of gold, Tanka & Baroque was born.
Why did you choose the name Tanka & Baroque? What meaning does it hold for you?
We wanted to create something marvelous, an entire universe, not just a brand name, where the ideas would be endless. Our brand is built on the belief that women are phenomenal, we are all different yet each of us carries that inner sparkle. Tankas are Japanese short poems, they are never cliché, always short and on point and I love that. They capture the woman’s spirit through our pieces in an elegant yet innovative way. Baroque, on the other hand, brings in the richness of art, detail and timeless elegance. Together Tanka & Baroque is poetry and grandeur, simplicity and depth, a name that holds all that we stand for.
Your brand is built around the mission of creating timeless pieces for phenomenal women. How do you define the “phenomenal woman”?
A phenomenal woman is one who embraces every facet of herself, her resilience, her softness, her hardship, her sparkle. She is unapologetically real, and that is where her true beauty lies.
How did you decide to incorporate Tanka poetry into your jewelry designs, and what role does poetry play in deepening the connection between a woman and her jewel?
Tanka poetry felt natural to me because it is simple yet profound, just a few lines that carry deep truth. That is exactly what I want our jewelry to be: honest, timeless and meaningful. Poetry has away of touching emotions in a very personal way. When woven into our designs, it creates a deeper bond, the jewel becomes more than adornment, it becomes a story, a memory, a reflection of the woman herself. For me, that love for poetry began back in my French school days. What I enjoyed and remembered most was the poetry hour, memorizing verses, then creating our own and presenting them. Through poetry, the words resonated more deeply, and that feeling has stayed with me ever since.
Your designs blend influences from the Baroque, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco periods while keeping a modern minimalism. How do you manage this balance between heritage and contemporary elegance?
Because I am a woman of today, my inspiration naturally blends a modern touch with echoes of yesterday’s designs. It’s a way of carrying the beauty of the past into the present, while keeping it fresh, elegant and timeless.
You work closely with a renowned atelier in Cairo with over 40 years of expertise. Can you tell us more about this collaboration and why craftsmanship is central to your brand?
For us, it was essential to root our creations in true craftsmanship, the kind that can only come from generations of knowledge and skills. This collaborations ensures that our designs are not only beautiful in concept but also exceptional in execution.
How do you select your gemstones and materials to align with your creative vision?
This is where I truly love to talk, because we are all about the sapphires and the step cuts. The step cut, rooted in the Art Deco era, brings a pure elegance and geometry that I find irresistible. It gives each stone a quiet strength, a timeless sophistication. As for the sapphires, they are the soul of our palette. And while we do use the occasional addition of other stones, this is our trademark. Each color tells its own story, all drawn from the beauty of nature. The pinks and purples belong to twilight skies, soft and mysterious. The yellows feel like meadows or the first light of day. The greens remind me of secret gardens, hidden and lush. And the blues, they are the wild seas and the endless skies, ib all their shifting hues. Together, these stones carry the emotions, the poetry and the hues that define Tanka & Baroque.
You are launching with several collections, each carrying its own story and symbolism. Could you share how these collections reflect the spirit and identity of Tanka & Baroque?
Each of our collections is like a chapter in the story of Tanka & Baroque. They carry their own symbols and emotions, yet together they reflect the spirit of our maison.
Is there one collection or design that you feel best represents the brand’s DNA and vision?
To be honest, I feel that all of our collections represent Tanka & baroque equally, and that is something I am truly proud of, and that is what I mean by endless possibilities to our unique universe. They each branch out in their own way, yet they all stand under the same aesthetic and spirit. That feeling is always there, the mix of feminine energy with earth-inspired colors, and the elegance of step-cut Art Deco geometry. Together they form one universe that is unmistakable Tanka & Baroque; yet we make them stand out each on their own to avoid repetition.
Empowerment seems central to your storytelling. How do you envision your jewelry helping women express their individuality and strength?
For me, jewelry is not just about beauty, it’s about identity. When a woman wears a piece from Tanka & Baroque, I want her to feel see, her individuality, her story, her strength. Each design its created to highlight, not overshadow, the woman who wears it.
What message or feeling do you hope every woman carries with her when shewears a Tanka & Baroque creation?
That she is unique and stands out; that every piece she is wearing, whether from our brand and/or others are specific to her style and hers only.
With the official launch in 2025, what are your main goals for this first chapter of the brand?
This year is about building strong foundations, from going our presence with the right retail partners to connecting women who resonate with our universe. Most of all, it’s about beginning this journey with authenticity, staying true to our vision, and letting the world discover the spirit of Tanka & Baroque.
Where do you see Tanka & Baroque in the next five years, and what legacy do you hope to build in the fine jewelry world?
In five years, I see Tanka & Baroque established as a maison that women around the world turn to not only for beauty, but for meaning. I hope our jewels will be recognized as timeless pieces that carry poetry, emotion and elegance. Creations that women treasure as part of their own stories. The legacy we want to build in the fine jewelry world is one of authenticity and artistry. A maison where craftsmanship, poetry and individuality come together, creating jewels that are not just worn, but lived with and passed on.
