# Maria Tash

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American jewelry designer and body piercer

Maria Tash Photo of Maria Tash Trade name Maria Tash Formerly Venus Body Arts Type Private Industry Jewelry Piercing Ear curation Founded 1993; 33 years ago (1993) in East Village, Manhattan, New York Founder Maria Tashjian Headquarters New York , United States of America Number of locations 9 concessions 6 freestanding [1] (2022) Area served New York Metropolitan Area Greater Dublin Greater London Miami-Dade County Greater Houston Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex City of Los Angeles Métropole du Grand Paris Emirate of Dubai Kuwait City Riyadh Governorate Greater Sydney Products Jewelry Body Jewelry Piercing Services Owner Maria Tashjian Number of employees ~200 (2019) Website mariatash.com

**Maria Tash** (born Maria Tashjian in [West Islip, New York](/source/West_Islip%2C_New_York)) is a jewelry designer and retailer. Tash founded the eponymous **Maria Tash**, a New York-based luxury piercing and fine jewelry brand.[2] The brand specializes in body piercing, ear curation,[3] and fine jewelry design. Originally founded in New York City in 1993, Maria Tash has since expanded globally.[4]

Tash's work, under her eponymous brand, has combined elements of mainstream piercing culture with fine jewelry, coining the term “Curated Ear”[5] to refer to an ear pierced with fashionable intention and under the direction of piercing experts.[3]

## Early years and education

Originally from [West Islip, New York](/source/West_Islip%2C_New_York) and raised in New York City,[6] Maria Tash (birth name Maria Tashjian) attended [Columbia University](/source/Columbia_University)[7] and the [Fashion Institute of Technology](/source/Fashion_Institute_of_Technology).[8] She also attended [King's College](/source/King's_College_London) in [London, England](/source/London%2C_England).[8]

## Career

Tash opened her first studio, **Venus Modern Body Art**, in 1993[7][8][9] in Manhattan's [East Village](/source/East_Village%2C_Manhattan), specializing in [navel piercings and jewelry](/source/Navel_piercing). Venus Body Arts[9] later became **Venus by Maria Tash**[10] until eventually Tash decided to use her own name for the shop. While first specializing in navel jewelry,[11] the shop later become known for a variety of ear piercing styles.[12][6]

Tash launched a line of international stores with its flagship location opening in New York City in 2004.[8] In 2016, the brand began expanding globally with the opening of a shop at [Liberty London](/source/Liberty_(department_store)).[13] Maria Tash has since opened permanent locations in Rome,[14] Dublin,[15] [Harrods London](/source/Harrods),[16] and Dubai.[17][18]

In November 2018 she opened her second freestanding location outside New York City with a 2,000 sq. ft luxury boutique in [The Dubai Mall](/source/The_Dubai_Mall).[19][20]

In 2020 during the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic), Maria Tash began to offer complimentary virtual appointments through [FaceTime](/source/FaceTime) and [Google Hangouts](/source/Google_Hangouts) in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Arabic.[21]

### Design and cultural impact

Tash modified several industry standard methods of assembling jewelry to create pieces that better fit the wearer.[3] These include a “[threaded](/source/Threaded_insert)” style earring backing and "invisible set" diamonds, which are notched and set below the crown.[22] Tash's designs are often smaller and more subtle than the traditional [punk-style](/source/Punk_fashion) heavy piercings that were popular in the early 1990s,[23] when Tash began piercing.[8]

Her designs have been worn by [Hailey Bieber](/source/Hailey_Baldwin), [Rihanna](/source/Rihanna), [Ashley Graham](/source/Ashley_Graham_(model)), [Queen Rania](/source/Queen_Rania_of_Jordan) and [Maritta Hallani](/source/Maritta_Hallani).[20]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Store List"](https://www.mariatash.com/store-locations.html).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-about_2-0)** ["About the Designer | Discover Maria Tash"](https://web.archive.org/web/20191003223134/https://www.mariatash.com/discover-maria-tash/about-the-designer.html). *Maria Tash*. Archived from [the original](https://www.mariatash.com/discover-maria-tash/about-the-designer.html) on 2019-10-03. Retrieved 2019-10-03.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_3-2) Kale, Sirin (2019-07-03). ["The curated ear: why delicate, decorative piercings are the new tattoos"](https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/jul/03/curated-ear-why-delicate-decorative-piercings-are-the-new-tattoos). *The Guardian*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0261-3077](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077). Retrieved 2019-10-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** McCall, Tyler (May 2018). ["How Maria Tash Went From Piercing Her Friends' Ears at Home to Launching a Global Jewelry Line"](https://fashionista.com/2018/05/maria-tash-earrings-piercing). *Fashionista*. Retrieved 2019-10-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** OConnell, Edaein (6 September 2019). ["#CuratedEar: What it is and where you can get one"](https://www.image.ie/fashion/curatedear-what-where-get-one-148607). *IMAGE.ie*. Retrieved 2019-10-03.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:5_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:5_6-1) Caroline, Hamelle (September 2019). "Des petits trous, des petits trous...". *Grazia France*. **508**: 50–51.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_7-1) Angrilli, Linda; Matthew Nadelhaft (2004). "Piercing Analysis". *FIT Network Magazine*

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-qapp_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-qapp_8-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-qapp_8-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-qapp_8-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-qapp_8-4) QAPP. ["15th QAPP (The Association of Professional Piercers) Annual Conference & Exposition Handbook"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140809044903/https://www.safepiercing.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/APP_2010Program_web.pdf) (PDF). QAPP. p. 34. Archived from [the original](https://www.safepiercing.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/APP_2010Program_web.pdf) (PDF) on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-piercer_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-piercer_9-1) ["Body Piercer to Christina Aguilera Comes to Avenue A"](http://localeastvillage.com/2011/11/04/body-piercer-to-christina-aguilera-comes-to-avenue-a/). *localeastvillage.com*. Retrieved 2019-10-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-racked_10-0)** Staff, Racked (2013-02-05). ["Noho Piercing Shop Venus by Maria Tash, Sketched"](https://ny.racked.com/2013/2/5/7689365/noho-piercing-shop-venus-by-maria-tash-sketched). *Racked NY*. Retrieved 2019-10-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [*Top Fastening Navel Jewelry Technique*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-M6FBx435Y), 30 November 2018, retrieved 2019-10-03

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["The piercing trend gets an upmarket makeover: how Maria Tash made the 'curated ear' a style essential"](https://www.independent.ie/style/fashion/style-talk/the-piercing-trend-gets-an-upmarket-makeover-how-maria-tash-made-the-curated-ear-a-style-essential-38362088.html). *Independent.ie*. 3 August 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Celebrity piercer Maria Tash opens permanent London shop at Liberty"](http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/celebrity-piercer-maria-tash-opens-permanent-london-shop-at-liberty-a3314841.html). *Evening Standard*. 2016-08-08. Retrieved 2019-10-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Come si portano i piercing d'estate: i consigli dell'esperta"](https://www.glamour.it/magazine/news-magazine/2018/06/14/si-portano-piercing-destate-consigli-dellesperta/). *Glamour.it* (in Italian). 2018-06-14. Retrieved 2019-10-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ODonoghue, Niamh (6 September 2018). ["A permanent Maria Tash pop-up is coming to Brown Thomas this October"](https://www.image.ie/fashion/maria-tash-brown-thomas-october-piercing-jewellery-127410). *IMAGE.ie*. Retrieved 2019-10-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Ma, Fiona (2018-08-06). ["Piercing Princess Maria Tash Joins Harrods' Fashion Lab with New Boutique"](https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/piercing-princess-maria-tash-joins-harrods-fashion-lab-new-boutique-1202770169/). *WWD*. Retrieved 2019-10-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["This Celebrity-Beloved Jeweler is Opening up a Dubai Boutique"](https://en.vogue.me/fashion/jewelry/maria-tash-dubai-mall/). *Vogue Arabia*. 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2019-03-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["مصممة الأقراط المتعددة المفضلة لدى الملكة رانيا تفتتح بوتيكها في دبي مول!"](https://www.gheir.com/read-jewelery.aspx?articleid=63277&title=%D9%85%D8%B5%D9%85%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%AF%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%81%D8%B6%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%84%D9%83%D8%A9-%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%AA%D8%AD-%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%AA%D9%8A%D9%83%D9%87%D8%A7-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AF%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D9%85%D9%88%D9%84!). *Gheir*. 11 April 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Celebrity-approved piercer Maria Tash to open boutique in Kuwait"](https://arab.news/nfycd). *Arab News*. 2020-02-05. Retrieved 2020-05-11.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_20-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_20-1) ["Exclusive: Celebrity-Loved Jeweler Maria Tash to Open a Boutique in Kuwait"](https://en.vogue.me/fine-jewelry-2/exclusive-maria-tash-opening-kuwait-boutique/). *Vogue Arabia*. 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2020-05-11.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Sidell, Misty White (2020-04-24). ["Maria Tash Offers Virtual Piercing Checkups During Lockdown"](https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/maria-tash-virtual-piercing-checkup-coronavirus-lockdown-1203620824/). *WWD*. Retrieved 2020-05-11.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Pierced to Perfection: An Interview with Maria Tash"](https://www.abouther.com/node/21361/fashion/jewellery/pierced-perfection-interview-maria-tash). *About Her*. 2019-07-29. Retrieved 2019-10-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** *Punk : a directory of modern subversive culture*. Bradshaw, James. [U.K.]: Holloway Contemporary Art. 2007. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1430321545](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1430321545). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [713202876](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/713202876).{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: others ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_others))

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Maria Tash](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Tash) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Tash?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.