Even if you haven’t heard of Tatiana Choremi, you’ve almost certainly seen her most iconic design. It’s the diamond-shaped traditional Greek eye motif, the mati, woven out of colorful threads; it became a huge hit and has since been copied by everyone. When she first created the woven design back in May 2010 for her toddler daughter to wear, she says she had no idea that it would become such a fad both in Greece and beyond.

A photographer before venturing into jewelry, Tatiana creates what she calls “pieces that have a story to tell,”pieces that combine with a card that has a story to tell, a poem that might trigger or remind them what they already know. She combines her pieces with  different materials and textures, such as precious stones and simple threads. She began her adventure in the world of jewelry in 2008. Her motivation for going in this direction was not only to discover another outlet for her artistic side, but also to find the perfect way of putting together her aesthetic creativity and art together with fashion.

“Jewelry was a means of freedom, something that gave me a measure of flexibility,” Tatiana says. “I could live and work on an island if I wanted, I didn’t need to be in the city. It was a way to have a different life, a freer life.”

Since 1999 she lives on the island of Aegina, and finds creative stimulation comes easily here. As for her iconic matibracelet, there was in fact no single flash of  commercial insight behind it. “I’d call it a need more than anything else. I’m inspired by everything around me, everything I see. What drove me to make these designs, at least in the case of the matibracelet, was my desire to make something for my daughter.”

 Greeks, like many other Mediterranean people, believe in the protective powers of the eye amulet, so it’s often pinned onto the clothes of small children and frequently worn by adults, too. Therefore, when Tatiana wanted to create something special for her daughter (who was two at the time), her thoughts turned to the mati. “It started from an instinct of love, of protection, to take care of my daughter. I never imagined then that this design would go as far as it did, or that so many people would enjoy it.” Today, several years down the line, the mati bracelet remains her favorite piece, and she still wears it often.

Tatiana’s carefully crafted pieces can be found at specialist stores in Greece, France and Portugal, and through several online stores. As for the profile of a typical fan of her work, she doesn’t believe there is one. Every age group buys her design and, with prices starting at €30 and ranging to €500 for her larger statement pieces, her jewelry is within reach of nearly everyone.

Her website is replete with examples of her creations, and she puts her talents as a photographer to excellent use both on the site and on her Instagram feed. Necklaces, earrings and rings, as well as woven bracelets in many colors, are all on offer. Thread is the basic material for her jewelry. “I like that I have the choice of so many colors,” she says. “On the other hand, I also like to use prescious stones, such as diamonds. I love the contrast of having something as expensive as a diamond paired with something as simple as thread.”

It’s been an exciting journey for someone whose most recognizable work to date started out as a trinket for her daughter.  What advice would she give someone who’s thinking of following in her footsteps? “Don’t copy others,” she advises. “It’s an amazing journey, as long as you find your own way. You can uncover pieces of your soul through this journey of creativity. To anyone thinking of doing the same thing, I’d say ‘Bon Voyage!’”