Michal Golan is an Israeli-born jewelry designer, printer, and ceramist and is the creative force behind the company that bears her name. She lives in New York with her husband and three children. Michal holds a Master's degree in Studio Art from New York University and a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Art from the University of Maryland.

The hamsa is a palm-shaped amulet popular throughout the Middle East and North Africa. The hamsa is often incorporated in jewelry and wall hangings, as a defense against the evil eye. Jews sometimes call it the hand of Miriam referencing the sister of Moses and Aaron. Five (hamesh in Hebrew) represents the five books of the Torah, as well as the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, "Heh", which represents one of G-d's holy names. Many Jews believe that the five fingers of the hamsa hand remind its wearer to use their five senses to praise G-d. There are two main styles of a hamsa hand: the most popular is the stylized hamsa with two symmetrical thumbs, but the hamsa can also be asymmetrical and shaped like an actual hand. Either hamsa hand can be worn with the fingers pointing up or down. The hamsa is popular as a charm most often worn as a necklace, but can be found as a decorative element in houses, on key chains, on other jewelry items, and is quickly gaining popularity as an amulet in baby carriages. Many artists are using the image of the hamsa hand in various aspects of their art including jewelry, paintings, sculptures, wall decorations, and amulets. The renewed interest in Kabbalah and mystical Judaism is a factor in bringing the hamsa pendant back into vogue. In Jewish mysticism, fish are a symbol of good luck, so many hamsas are also decorated with fish images. Sometimes hamsas are inscribed with Hebrew prayers, such as the Sh'ma, Birkat HaBayit (Blessing for the Home), or Tefilat HaDerech (Traveler's Prayer).