Emirati designer's jewellery tells stories of heritage

Abu Dhabi - Emirati designer Fatima Al Dhaheri's designs were recognised by Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan.

Entrepreneurs often take their own inspiration, their passion, their ideas and life events and use them to incorporate a dynamic and successful business.
For 37-year-old Emirati, Fatima Al Dhaheri, the inspiration from her homeland, her opulent culture and her unique heritage drove her to establish the luxury jewellery brand, which she dubbed Ruwaya.
On Monday at Rosewood Hotel in Abu Dhabi, the launch of the Emirati woman's designs were recognised by Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, who spoke to Al Dhaheri about her passion.
The Emirati designer highlighted that the name of her line is what is most significant as it links everything she does to her heritage. Al Dhaheri chose to name her business after her grandmother, who she believes has a strong and beautiful spirit, thus highlighting the notion that every woman can be powerful, yet beautiful.
Al Dhaheri told Khaleej Times that it was vital for her to incorporate her family, her culture and heritage in every step of the process.
"My grandmother was a strong and beautiful woman who was also very creative," she said, adding that, "Ruwaya is a name that hasn't been used in my family for some time, so as much as it's about bringing that back and all that Ruwaya embodies, it's also about all of the strong, bold and beautiful women from this region."
The inspiration by a passion, which draws from the influences of the designer's own family, as well as Arab aesthetics and a dynamic fusion of cultures in the UAE, are also vital backdrops for the Emirati woman.
"The vision is to embrace the strong and beautiful women of the region. And as a woman designing for fellow women, I want to show them how beautiful and glamorous they are."
She pointed out that focusing on the power of femininity was also relevant and to link the power of Arab women to the Arab land was a prominent and underlying theme in each handcrafted piece.
"Ruwaya means water, or something which generates a thirst, and in Arab culture water is equivalent to wealth because of its historic scarcity."
Every woman is a giver, and every woman is a storyteller. "Ruwaya also means giving. Another intonation of Ruwaya - by that I mean Ruwaya written slightly different in Arabic - also means a story, and Ruwaya tells its own beautiful, intricate story," she added.
One of her three collections, titled Marari, is inspired by the tradition of long chains, which were often worn by Arab women. Again, linking the culture and heritage to modern and unique art.
Today, one may find new designs and fashion labels popping up in just about every corner of the nation. However, a decade ago the case was somewhat different. Al Dhaheri noted that the limitation of jewellery designs and clothing in the UAE also inspired her to rely on her own.
"Up until about 15 years ago, there were very few options for buying jewellery or indeed even clothes in the UAE, so my friends and I grew up designing our own clothes and bespoke products," she added.
Prior to setting out her dreams, Al Dhaheri, who is also a business graduate from Higher Colleges of Technology, worked as a banker by day. However, by night, she revealed her true talent in her family's business and established retail chain, Amwaj Jewellery.
The young woman's skills began to blossom, as she began to explore with her own designs, while sketching customised pieces for customers from her family's stores.
Seeing his daughter's talent and flair in the jewellery industry, Al Dhaheri's father suggested that she should put her capacity and skill to good use, thus suggesting the establishment of her own business, separate from the family.
"It was my father who suggested I should create my own brand. I was a bit daunted by this suggestion at first - me, how could I create my own brand? Would it be good enough?"
"But it sparked the idea and as I thought about it more, I realised that a dream that had laid dormant for many years was now coming alive - this was what I was meant to do," she added. The designer realised that the banking and corporate world wasn't for her, and that her true calling was art.
"I realised that working in the family business would give me the freedom to explore that side of me," she said, adding that, "there, the foundation of the Ruwaya dream was unearthed, I just hadn't realised it yet. I just knew by then that working in the corporate world wasn't for me."
"I started to sketch and doodle and I guess that started my own creative process. It was daunting at first to start my own brand, but I felt very passionately that this is what I was meant to be doing," she added.
Growing up in a business-oriented household certainly helps an entrepreneur, and having a successful family retail chain is a plus. However, it's not always necessary, believes Al Dhahiri.
"I don't believe it is vital to have a business background, but it certainly helps in being able to develop a brand and in creating a viable business. My passion for business has complemented my passion for designing jewellery," she noted.
Al Dhahiri highlighted that her goal is to be the go-to designer for women in the UAE, who wants to treat themselves to something special, adding that all women should feel significant.
"My goal is to break new ground with Ruwaya in the luxury jewellery industry, to give women something amazing, something that will make them feel truly special," she said.
The number of Emirati entrepreneurs has certainly dynamically risen in recent years, thus it may often be a challenge for one to step their foot in the door.
However, the 37-year-old pointed out that any upcoming entrepreneurs, designers or business hopefuls, who may feel a lack of motivation or drive, are still able to achieve their goals and dreams, if they simply put their mind to it.
"I advise every person to discover their passion, and work towards it so they can enjoy their work and add their own personal touch to what they do," she said.
jasmine@khaleejtimes.com 

• UAE