Maghan Oroszi's journey—from architecture student and sculptor to CEO of Mignon Faget, a renowned fine jewelry brand in New Orleans—highlights a career shaped by creativity, persistence, and a willingness to say "yes" to opportunity.
During her years as an architecture student, a sculptor, and a design manager for a metalsmith company, Oroszi learned that art is about process: it's never truly finished, and it should be embraced for its imperfections. These lessons are ones she applies daily in her role at Mignon Faget, a brand that has long celebrated individuality and uniqueness through its jewelry designs.
"Art is about exploration, rethinking, and reworking," Oroszi explains. She joined Mignon Faget in 2010 and has watched the brand's evolution firsthand. Its latest holiday collection is a testament to its philosophy, featuring handcrafted pieces that make bold statements—like banana leaf shapes, rough-cut crystals, and chunky gemstones that embody a maximalist aesthetic.
For Oroszi, the connection between form and function has been central throughout her career, from her early ambitions of being an architect to her work in jewelry. Fine jewelry, she emphasizes, needs to be both functional and beautifully designed: "It must wear well and be comfortable, but it should also adorn the body in an aesthetically pleasing way."
Oroszi’s fascination with how things are made started young—she recalls being 10 years old and asking to assemble a new grill for her parents. This curiosity and drive to create led her to the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 1993, where she spent a formative year studying design across multiple disciplines. Though the cost of the school led her to leave after just one year, the exposure she gained there helped her see art as a viable career.
She later moved to New Orleans to attend Tulane University, balancing work with her studies. During this time, she landed a job with jewelry-maker Bernard K. Passman through a newspaper ad that sought artisans. When asked during the interview if she could make a gold cat with pavé diamonds sitting on a black coral pillow, she confidently said yes. This opportunity opened doors to the jewelry world, and she honed her craft by repeatedly perfecting her skills on a single pair of earrings.
When Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, Passman's studio was damaged, and the business moved to Miami. Oroszi followed, but in 2007, she decided it was time for a change. She moved to upstate New York and, through another newspaper ad, landed a position as a 3D modeler with Fine Architectural Metalsmiths, where she learned to work with metal, sculpting pieces by hand and using computer programs.
Eventually, her passion for architecture drew her back to New Orleans and Tulane, where she intended to complete her degree. Instead, she found her true calling when she sent her résumé to Mignon Faget. She was hired as a design and research assistant and quickly rose through the ranks—serving as special projects manager, associate creative director, and chief operations officer before being named CEO. Along the way, she was mentored by the founder herself, Mignon Faget.
Now at the helm, Oroszi wants to ensure that the brand remains a key part of New Orleans' heritage while also expanding its reach nationally and internationally. "Mignon Faget is an icon, an essential part of New Orleans," she says. "My goal is to ensure the brand thrives for another 50, or even 100, years, keeping it a cherished part of the city and beyond."