Today we’d like to introduce you to Shahana Dagha.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey has been anything but easy, raising four children on my own taught me strength, resilience, and how to keep going even when the path ahead wasn’t clear, and for a long time, life felt like survival mode. Raising my children with no outside support forced me to become strong in ways I never imagined—but it also left me emotionally depleted. I struggled with depression for many years, silently carrying the weight of responsibility and pain.
Art became my escape—my sanctuary. During those difficult years, I also volunteered at a women’s shelter. It was incredibly meaningful to help women who, like me, were trying to reclaim their identity and rebuild their lives. That experience taught me the power of purpose, healing, and connection.
Ironically, my journey into jewelry design started while I was on bed rest recovering from a major surgery. I had time, tools, and a need to create. I started designing tasbih (prayer beads) as a way to reconnect with my faith and ground myself spiritually. From there, I began creating gemstone bracelets and anklets—each one with its own meaning, energy, and intention.
I shared a few of my early pieces at home, and it was actually my kids—my biggest supporters—who encouraged me to keep going. They saw the joy it brought me, even when I was physically recovering and emotionally drained. Their belief in me reignited something I had lost touch with. That’s when I knew I had something special. I started doing small exhibitions and pop-up shops, and the response from the community was overwhelming. People weren’t just buying jewelry—they were connecting to the stories and emotions behind each piece. I got amazing feedback. That’s when I knew I had something special. I started doing small exhibitions and pop-up shops, and the response from the community was overwhelming. People weren’t just buying jewelry—they were connecting to the stories and emotions behind each piece.
That’s how Je Ne Sais Quoi was born—a brand built on resilience, spirituality, and soulful design. Today, every piece I create is one-of-a-kind, handcrafted with love, and inspired by my personal journey.
I want my story to remind others—especially women—that even in your lowest moments, you can still build something beautiful. You can still heal, grow, and create. For me, each piece I design is a quiet symbol of resilience. If my work inspires someone else to believe in their own journey, then I’ve done what I was meant to do.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest challenge has been doing it all on my own raising four kids, working and while building a business from scratch. Financially, emotionally, and logistically, it hasn’t been easy. But I’ve learned to trust the process and keep moving forward, even when things feel impossible.
I also had to overcome my own self-doubt. For a long time, I questioned whether my art mattered or whether anyone would understand it. But the more I created, the more I saw how deeply people connected with it—and that gave me the courage to keep going.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work is a blend of emotional expression, cultural richness, and spiritual depth. I specialize in handcrafted gemstone bracelets, prayer beads (tasbih), anklets, luxurious shawls, and mirror art. Each medium allows me to tell a different part of my story.
My mirror art was actually one of my first creative outlets—it’s deeply reflective (in every sense) and often layered with symbolism and texture. It became a form of therapy for me, especially during some of the most emotionally challenging times in my life. Later, while recovering from surgery, I began designing tasbih and gemstone bracelets, which evolved into a full line of one-of-a-kind wearable pieces.
What sets my work apart is its intentionality. Every piece—whether it’s a bracelet, a strand of prayer beads, or a mirrored canvas—is one-of-a-kind. I don’t repeat designs or mass produce. Each creation carries meaning, emotion, and energy. I want people to feel something when they wear or experience my work—peace, connection, empowerment, or healing.
I work with natural stones, silk threads, and handmade materials to create bracelets, anklets, tasbih, and luxury silk and velvet shawls that are elegant, meaningful, and timeless. Nothing is mass-produced. I don’t repeat designs. Everything is one-of-a-kind, just like the people who wear them.
Clients often come to me for custom pieces—something to mark a moment, honor a loved one, or carry a personal intention. That connection is what makes this work so fulfilling.
I’m most proud of building this brand while raising my four children, who have been by my side through every step. Watching them grow into kind, compassionate, and supportive individuals while witnessing me create something out of struggle means the world to me. They’re not just my motivation—they’re my partners in this journey.
At its core, my work is about transformation—taking emotion, pain, or prayer and turning it into something beautiful. That’s what I hope people feel when they experience my art.
What makes you happy?
What makes me happy is creating something meaningful with my hands and seeing it resonate with others. There’s a quiet joy in knowing that something I designed—whether it’s a bracelet, a tasbih/rosary, or a piece of mirror art—can bring someone peace, confidence, or a sense of connection.
I find happiness in the small, soulful moments—when my kids sit with me while I work, when a customer shares the personal story behind their custom order, or when I see someone light up wearing something I made just for them. It’s in those moments I feel aligned with my purpose.
And honestly, simply having made it this far—building a life and a brand out of what once felt like broken pieces—makes me deeply, quietly happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jenesais-quoi.com/
- Instagram: JeNeSaisQuoi18
