About the designer
Kareema Al Adhami
Karmalulu is the brainchild of Dubai-based Iraqi designer Kareema Al Adhami.
Raised in Dubai, Kareema completed her Master’s in Cultural and Creative Industries at King’s College in London.
Growing up in a deeply creative household, Kareema was immersed in art from an early age. With no formal training in jewellery design, but an innate curiosity, she started designing jewellery by chance, following in the artistic footsteps of her grandmother Layla Al Attar, a trailblazing Iraqi painter.
Drawing on her cultural heritage, artistic influences, and personal experiences, Kareema creates pieces that are both distinctive and deeply meaningful. Each creation is an expression of her artistic identity, where storytelling, craftsmanship, and a reverence for the past meet a contemporary aesthetic.
At the heart of Karmalulu is a desire to create more than beautiful jewellery. Kareema envisions each piece as a future heirloom, something to be cherished, worn, and passed down.
Through Karmalulu, she hopes to build a legacy that connects generations.
The inspiration
Ancient Stories from Mesopotamia
Kareema returns again and again to the land between the rivers, drawing inspiration from its ancient myths and sacred legends.
Ishtar
Ishtar is the most highly regarded female figure in Mesopotamian mythology. She embodies divine feminine energy and the complexities of womanhood. Being simultaneously powerful and vulnerable, loving and vengeful, Ishtar is a symbol of both feminism and femininity.
Garden of Eden
This mystical place is believed to have existed at the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Teeming with life, the Garden of Eden is a reminder of the beauty of nature, the purity of hedonistic joy, and their power to heal.
Palm Tree
The palm tree symbolizes the feminine space in the garden because of its giving nature. In Iraqi culture, it is cherished almost as a sentient being; to spend time with one is a spiritual experience.
About the Brand
Modern heirlooms
Rooted in art, culture, and storytelling, Karmalulu creates timeless jewellery that transcends trends.
Inspired by the treasured pieces Kareema would borrow from her mother’s jewellery collection growing up, Karmalulu seeks to revive a distinctive aesthetic rarely encountered in contemporary pieces. The brand reinterprets the character and charm of jewellery from bygone eras through a modern lens.
Each design is thoughtfully researched, drawing on historical references and forgotten details to create wearable objets d’art that evoke a sense of nostalgia.
With an emphasis on individuality and enduring beauty, Karmalulu’s creations exude an effortless elegance and are designed to be treasured forever.
Created in a small workshop in Dubai, each piece is either made to order or produced in exceptionally limited quantities.
In the press
“In a market arguably over-saturated with boutique jewellery brands, it takes something special to stand out”
Olivia Philips, 2021
Customer Service
I'm Kareema and I'm available to chat on WhatsApp or via hello@karmalulu.com
Authenticity Guaranteed
Every piece is crafted in 18k gold, includes a hallmark and comes with a certificate of authenticity