Dazzling designs

Rasha Wassem, a young Egyptian designer, is holding her first exhibition of jewellery at the Art Workshop. Inaugurated by Khalfan Mussaba, director of the Cultural Foundation and assistant under secretary for Art and Cultural Affairs, the show is drawing many women from the capital. Wassem's creations include chokers, necklaces, bracelets and rings.

With most of the gemstones coming from India, Nepal, Pakistan and Russia, this young designer has a kaleidoscope of colours, textures and shapes to work with. All the pieces are made with silver so that the final result is subtle with a touch of class.
She also buys antique silver pieces, breaks them up and mixes them with gemstones. It takes around eight hours to complete an intricate piece. She uses genuine gemstones, coral pearls, Swarovski crystals and the 'Pharaoh's Stone' or goran in Arabic.

Her personal favourites are amethysts and lapis lazuli because she feels their colours are more spiritual and soothing. Every piece of her jewellery is unique, no design duplication ever. She has several buyers who are willing to take her designs into the haute couture markets of London, Paris and Italy under the brand name 'RW'. "If it gets too commercial then creativity will disappear," she feels, saying it will remain a hobby.

Although her family has been encouraging her to have an exhibition, Wassem was not too keen. When she joined an art course at the Art Workshop, the jewellery she wore invited a lot of attention. This led her to consider the matter. Also, during a visit to Harrods in London, a buyer, fascinated by her choker and beaded bag, asked her to send him a brochure and CDs of her designs. Thus the current exhibition was organised. So impressed is Khalfan Mussaba that he would like to arrange a lecture and a workshop for Wassem to teach the art of jewellery designing and making.