The world of jewelry making is an intrinsic artistry. It requires skills, attention to detail, a care for the human Spirit, and a deeper connection to Earth’s sensitivities. What is it about the wearing of nature’s jewels, that makes people feel good? What is it about being decorated in precious metals, that makes a human being feel alive? The therapeutic science behind wearing jewelery, and its connection to a greater sense of awareness. Wearing jewelery is an artistic, and therapeutic endeavor, on its own.
In Egypt, there is a famed, feminine icon, who specializes in the art of jewelry and wellness. Designing her products, which not only reflects her cultural background, but also gives hints and clues into a greater energy, and healing power, of the fashion world. That special being is none other than Egypt’s own, Azza Fahmy!
She is considered the first woman in Egypt to have specialized in the artistry of metallics. What more are metals than nature’s ability to show her malleability? One of the beauties of mastering the art of metallics is that they require patience, gentility, and docility. One must align one’s personal force, with the forces of these elements. Shaping, bending, twisting, and turning them, so that they embody the right design. Yet, metals are tricky. They require human humility. You can not design them outside of their capabilities and element. On the contrary, they force you to know them, so that you can work with them. There is a particular silence about metals. A quiet stillness, that is different and unique from other gems, precious stones, semi-precious stones, gold, silver, and other decorative tools. There is a foundational beauty about them, which symbolizes life’s illusions. Illusions that demonstrate how rigidity and malleability are intertwined with each other; dependent on the other’s existence.
I have entered into her stores, and passed them by. One in Zamalek, and the other in Heliopolis. Both experiences gave me a sense of calm and tranquility. In the midst of an urban, metropolis, as Cairo, Egypt, I felt centered and re-stored, when I had crossed into these havens. The metallic artistry of her collections were reaching out to a greater energy and plane, that the majority of humanity is unaware even exists. Her designs and aesthetics are those subtle reminders to stop, and be still, when finding ourselves in the midst of chaos. To be quiet, and listen to metallic secrets. Secrets connected to the richness of the Earth, and in-depth explorations, that we have yet to uncover. Riches that are so abundant, even with all of our technological advancements, we have yet to observe a percentage of their versatility. Their power and true wellness for the human Spirit.
Seeing the work and designs of Azza Fahmy, one is compelled to ask, how would it feel to wear, her vision? Wearing her tastes? Feeling that Earthly aura and balance, that she experiences. Her collections are truly artistic writings of her diary. Detailing each and every part of her own wellness journey, in crafting them. Her own tales in learning how to stay centered when balancing, and harmonizing, her skills with nature’s way of movement. That’s the fascination of working with metals.
So, on that day. . .On that fruitful day, at the American University In Cairo, I had the opportunity to meet (and be captured with) , the woman, herself! It was Sunday of October 16, 2016, on the top floor of the Sharjah Art Gallery. Fahmy was in attendance as a guest speaker for “The Ripple Effect” Design Retrospective, as organized by the Department Of Arts. An exhibition, designed to present, and reveal, the wonders of wearing wellness. It was a fantastical experience to meet another woman, who too, is an Earthly one.
Like the teachings of her fashionable aesthetics, she too performed a Spirit of calm, quiet, stillness, balance, and harmony. Bringing those teachings to share with students, faculty, and staff, on that given day. It was truly an iconic experience. Yet, one that was unexpected. It was moreso out of desire to further explore, this particular artistry. And, especially, its cultural, Egyptian influences. For her story highlights the cultural stories of other Earth-centered, Egyptian-Arab women. And, it is such women in Egypt, and the world over, who are truly the gatekeepers of womanhood, and woman’s protection of Earth. Depicting humanity’s connection to Earth, whether we recognize it or not. Whether we care to believe it, or not. Regardless of our beliefs, that natural connection is there. How we intertwine with it determines how our work life and social life will be. If we will see work as a tedious, back breaking, miserable chore, OR if it will be a platform to highlight our creativity and production to the world. That’s a decision we make on a daily basis, in Earth’s gardens of paradise.
My meeting of Azza Fahmy was a tender moment. For the first time, I saw the hands, who crafted those healing vectors (which had given me pleasure), while entering into her stores. I truly hope it won’t be the last. My imagination runs wild for desires to hear her natural journey. But, if it never happens, just know that I felt a flowery alignment of her presence. You will have those types of Universal, cross-cultural, and cross-natural, experiences. On that day, the spacing was right. The aura was peaceful. Everything was euphoric. From the interior shaping, the set-up, and presentation of the event. Everything was as it should be. Right there. In the natural alliance of fashion’s design.
So, as a tribute to the ending of March 2020’s, Women’s Herstory Month celebration, let us remember the natural essence of woman. Complex, creative, thought provoker, compassionate, nurturer, healer, decision-maker, and everything having to do with sustaining life. Just remember to interconnect all of these actions in the Earthly way. The natural way. Of Woman’s Way!
