Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Artistic Arwa and Amani Alaasar aim to redefine what accessorising an outfit means as well as pay homage to their Egyptian- Bahraini heritage by creating traditional and Arabesque jewellery and bag designs.
The sisters, who design handmade phone holders, clutches, belts, jewellery and sebhas (rosary beads) out of Arwa’s home in Budaiya, started their labour of love 10 years ago when they both decided to pursue their passion for art.
“I knew art was my calling, from doodling in my notebook at the age of seven, to sleepless nights finishing up the details of a painting,” said Arwa, the mother-of-four. “It is truly a form of therapy and self-expression but I deviated from pursuing a career in art to studying medicine at the Arabian Gulf University and going into Family Medicine. I remember drawing in my sketchbook in between seeing patients and creating jewellery designs. I ended up practicing medicine for nine years, until I decided I was ready.”
In 2010, she made the leap from science to art and began designing bracelets, selling them to family and friends. She called the accessory venture Zayloona after her daughters Zain and Leena.
“I went into the field of accessories wanting to create art,” Arwa added. “I view each accessory we make as a unique art piece.”
Her sister Amani, who studied mass communication in Egypt followed by a Master’s in Business Administration in Jordan, joined her sister upon her return to the kingdom. Together, they rebranded and created a new line of accessories from necklaces to clutches.
“Arwa and I were very interested in redefining what accessories meant,” said Amani. “Accessories define a person’s style and character. Two women can wear the same dress but look different depending on their styling. Accessorising a look is like adding finishing touches to a painting. It can make all the difference. And why not bring back our roots in a modern way?
“We always try to create accessories that push the boundaries with our special use of colour and unique designs.”
The ladies use a variety of materials to make their vibrant products including shells, beads, semi-precious stones, string and metals they gather from tiny bazaars and local markets found on their travels abroad.
They also tend to use unconventional materials in the making of their designs such as wool, felt and the ghitra, which is a traditional Bahraini headpiece worn by men.
“Amani and I make every knot, attach every embellishment and insert every bead,” said Arwa. “Everything we make is with passion and love, so we care for each piece we sell and make. For example, each of our clutches have unique hand-woven and hand- embroidered appliqués that are sown onto the clutch.
“This makes each piece one-of a kind, and no two are alike. With items such as those, it takes us up to two days’ work to create. Short necklaces and bracelets can be done in a few hours.”
Using these materials, they have created a cool collection of items including the phone hanger which allows men and women to wear their phones around their necks as a necklace.
Arwa said: “We came up with the idea of the phone hanger because we noticed people are constantly misplacing their phones, so hanging it around your neck was the easiest way to keep it by your side at all times. Once that idea took off, we started the rope wrap, which is a multi- use handmade rope that can be used as a bag charm or a necklace. The rope wrap has also been worn as a belt by many of our creative customers. The accessories we offer are things that we could not find in the market, or if we did, it was not our style.”
The siblings are also transforming traditional sebhas into wearable pieces for men and women. They offer 33 beaded and 99 beaded sebhas that can be coiled around the wrist as a chunky bracelet, or be worn as a necklace.
“We wanted to encourage the traditional Arabic woman to carry around her sebha while still looking elegant and stylish. The sebha was created as an option for those who do not necessarily enjoy wearing a lot of jewellery on a regular basis.” They even have bracelets and sebhas for men.
They have even created a line of eye glass chains in bold and brighter colours for the summer. “The colour combinations we use pay homage to the ancient Egyptian aesthetic such as turquoise, Maroon, and a lot of gold,” said Arwa. “We gain inspiration from nature, colours and pieces of art. Most of all, I believe our culture plays the biggest role in being our source of inspiration.”
People interested in their products can find them on Instagram or at exhibitions across the island. Their dream is to grow and expand the business globally and regionally as well as become a fully-fledged accessory shop. They also hope to add beachwear and kaftans to their future lines.
