Emirati carves a niche with 'cake art'

Dubai: A year ago, Elham Rabi, an Emirati, designed a cake for her aunt on her birthday which stunned everyone present at the party.

Word spread and soon she began receiving requests from her family and friends to design cakes for birthdays and special occasions. A while later, requests began pouring in from other customers too.

"I feel happy when my designs bring joy... it makes me look forward to presenting the best designs I can," she said.

Elham is extremely happy with the feedback she has received and says it all happened so fast and yet with so much of joy. "... I never planned to be a cake designer. As a matter of fact, I [have] studied interior design.

"However... with the encouragement and support from [family and friends] I [have] managed to make an impact with my designs," she said. "My family likes to order cakes for every occasion, so I decided [that] instead of the usual run-of-the-mill shapes, I could be more creative..." she added.

Asked whether she had received any professional business advice, Elham said: "Of course I did [and] with the support and co-operation from Chocoa which today is the best in cakes and chocolates.

"I'm also grateful to many people in this industry because without their faith in my talent, none of my designs would be alive and wouldn't look as fabulous as they look today."

Did she receive any formal training for designing cakes? "Never, it all started as a hobby and passionately developed."

While designing interiors and clothes are common among Emirati women, designing cakes is a totally different ball game. Is it challenging to constantly come up with new designs? "I first ask my clients a couple of questions about their interest, hobbies... and then I design accordingly.

"Also if I'm aware of their background I then decide what's most appropriate for them..." she said.

Elham, whose name means inspiration in English, is a graduate in interior design from the American College in London. Besides designing cakes, does she design interiors too? "I admired home decorations in magazines and certain homes that I visited, and thought why not be a party to advance these contemporary arts into reality by being a designer myself." she said.

"At the beginning I worked for a professional company as an intern and then preferred to branch out on my own as a freelancer," she said, adding that freelancing gave her the opportunity to work freely and in a creative manner, without the restrictions of a full-time job.

When asked whether she preferred classic designs over modern, when designing homes, Elham said: "I prefer modern style with a blend of classic which of course has to satisfy the clients' tastes and suits their requirements.

"After all, it's their space. Therefore, their inputs are necessary in order [for them] to be comfortable and relaxing," she said, adding that she admired Richard Meier, Frank Lloyd Wright and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for their modern clean cuts and geometrical layouts.

Elham believes that if a person enjoys what he/she does, then happiness will effortlessly flow into their lives — either on a professional or private level.

Her main goal now is to have her own company which would cater to designing interiors and cakes.

"I eagerly look forward to my own specialised company for designing houses and birthday's cakes.

"After all, both are a source of joy for children and adults alike," she said.