EGYPT-JEWELLERY DESIGNER Folk culture and Arab calligraphy inspire Egyptian jewellery designer
Record ID:
231094
EGYPT-JEWELLERY DESIGNER Folk culture and Arab calligraphy inspire Egyptian jewellery designer
- Title: EGYPT-JEWELLERY DESIGNER Folk culture and Arab calligraphy inspire Egyptian jewellery designer
- Date: 7th January 2015
- Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (RECENT - DECEMBER 24, 2014) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF AZZA FAHMY BOUTIQUE SHOP/ WOMEN ENTERING SHOPPERS WALKING INSIDE AZZA FAHMY BOUTIQUE WOMAN TRYING ON NECKLACE NECKLACE SHOPPER LOOKING AT ANOTHER NECKLACE IN MIRROR NECKLACE WOMEN BUYING NECKLACE SHOPKEEPER PUTTING NECKLACE IN BOX SHOPPER CHECKING NECKLACE AZZA FAHMY BOX EXTERIOR OF FACTORY AZZA FAHMY EMBLEM ON WALL FACTORY FLOOR VARIOUS OF WORKERS IN FACTORY WORKER CRAFTING JEWELLERY WORKER CRAFTING JEWELLERY JEWELLERY ON BENCH WORKERS IN FACTORY JEWELLERY WORKER HEATING JEWELLERY JEWELLERY WORKER HEATING JEWELLERY AZZA FAHMY SITTING WITH TEAM FAHMY WITH TEAM FAHMY SPEAKING WITH TEAM FAHMY'S RINGS ON HAND CAIRO, EGYPT (RECENT - DECEMBER 12, 2014) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) JEWELLERY DESIGNER, AZZA FAHMY, SAYING: "I did not have another way. It was a short way instead of going to study for four years in university again, so I said I should go learn this craft. I stayed two years in Khan Al Khalili and I learnt the basics of the craft and then I started." CAIRO, EGYPT (RECENT - DECEMBER 24, 2014) (REUTERS) FAHMY SITTING WITH TEAM JEWELLERY VARIOUS OF FAHMY TALKING WITH TEAM FAHMY DRAWING CAIRO, EGYPT (RECENT - DECEMBER 12, 2014) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) JEWELLERY DESIGNER, AZZA FAHMY, SAYING: "Maybe the thing I most care about now is that we create good schools in Egypt. Schools for designers and schools for workers, career training. This is my main upcoming concern." AZZA FAHMY GALLERY PEOPLE AT GALLERY JEWELLERY IN CASES VARIOUS OF WOMAN TAKING OUT JEWELLERY JEWELLERY WOMAN PUTTING JEWELLERY IN GLASS CASE VARIOUS OF JEWELLERY ON DISPLAY AZZA FAHMY AND DAUGHTERS WALKING THROUGH GALLERY DAUGHTER OF AZZA FAHMY, AMINA GHALY, STANDING BY JEWELLERY DISPLAY JEWELLERY ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DAUGHTER OF AZZA FAHMY, AMINA GHALY, SAYING: "What is good is that the Egyptian market is starting to revitalise itself over the past 10 years which is a good thing. People always tell me "but you have a lot of competition". That is a good thing. Competition is a good thing. It is a very healthy thing because it makes me want to do my job better. It lets us put Egypt on the map. Instead of saying there is only one designer from Egypt we can say there are many designers, just like Lebanon is now known for its fashion; I hope Egypt is put on the map. My mother's long term vision is that we are placed on the map. The more there are new designers in the jewellery market it makes me work better and it makes Egypt better." VARIOUS OF JEWELLERY DISPLAY IN GALLERY
- Embargoed: 22nd January 2015 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Egypt
- Country: Egypt
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA2RQEH9900EGH750W4I5X5O2FJ
- Story Text: Everywhere in Egypt lovers of silver and gold decorate themselves with rings and necklaces made by traditional jewellers. But ask any shopper about where to find the best jewellery and premium silverware and Azza Fahmy's name will surely come up.
Fahmy is a jewellery designer who set up her stall in 1969 and for the past 45 years has been nurturing her design business into an international brand.
Fahmy says the first time she used her hands to design something, she made a few small rings that were sold at her first exhibition. Through a British Council fellowship, she was able to study the craft of jewellery at the City of London Polytechnic in the mid-70s, where Fahmy learned how to integrate theory into practice.
The brand grew and now has almost 190 workers in her Cairo factory, workshop and design studio. Although business has boomed worldwide she still relishes the challenges of creating handmade jewellery. She now incorporates the expertise of her daughters Amina and Fatma Ghali, to help run her luxury business, enabling her to focus more on design.
Fahmy's presence as a woman in the traditional male trade of jewellery making is unconventional, but the means by which she taught herself the skills of her trade was much more exceptional.
Instead of going to university for another four years and learning how to craft jewellery, Fahmy went to a popular local market, Khan Al Khalili, to learn the trade from the masters themselves.
"I did not have another way. It was a short way instead of going to study for four years in university again so I said I should go learn this craft. I stayed two years in Khan Al Khalili and I learnt the basics of the craft and then I started," Fahmy told Reuters.
Fahmy's inspiration comes from Egyptian folk culture, Pharoanic design, scriptures that characterise Arabic customs as well as Ottoman influences.
Different nationalities of skilled craftsmen at the Azza Fahmy factory use different techniques such as filigree and hand piercings to turn those traditions into radical designs. Much of the jewellery is large and heavy, embedded with detail and precious stones.
Fahmy says her next project will be the start of designer schools in Egypt to create a generation of designers and workers in the field of crafts.
"Maybe the thing I most care about now is that we create good schools in Egypt. Schools for designers and schools for workers, career training. This is my main upcoming concern," Fahmy told Reuters.
Unlike her mother, Amina Ghali decided the most important aspect before entering the jewellery-making field was an education. She studied at a British university before coming back to her mother's business to inject her vision.
Differences between herself and her mother do arise but for Ghali, distinction and competition are vital.
"What is good is that the Egyptian market is starting to revitalise itself over the past 10 years which is a good thing. People always tell me "but you have a lot of competition". That is a good thing. Competition is a good thing. It is a very healthy thing because it makes me want to do my job better. It lets us put Egypt on the map. Instead of saying there is only one designer from Egypt we can say there are many designers just like Lebanon is now known for its fashion; I hope Egypt is put on the map. My mother's long term vision is that we are placed on the map. The more there are new designers in the jewellery market it makes me work better and it makes Egypt better," said Ghali.
Fahmy has also opened her own design studio to help others become skilled jewellers. Azza Fahmy Design Studio offers students and entrepreneurs a specialised jewellery design and making course, that teaches all aspects of jewellery and metalsmithing techniques.
In 2012, Fahmy set up the Azza Fahmy Foundation to help create job opportunities and provide vocational education, exchange programmes and development projects in the creative industries.
Her online store sells her products to clients in Australia, the United States and Europe.
Fahmy's work has also been featured at London and New York fashion week, and in collaborations with leading international designers, like British designer Julien Macdonald and London label Preen.
Her jewellery is also popular amongst celebrities, with popstars Rihanna and Joss Stone spotted wearing her iconic designs. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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