After three years, Azza Fahmy, chairwoman and creative director of Azza Fahmy Jewellery, finally finished writing her autobiography. The book explores all stages of her life from a different perspective and gives a personal overview of Egypt through many years and locations. “I wrote my autobiography to be an educational and cultural experience for the new generations. I want readers to benefit from the historical and geographical content. The most important for me is to have it as a readable and beneficial experience for everyone who wants to start a project or learn a craft,” she says. “Writing my autobiography gave me the opportunity to discover a lot about myself. It was the first time I thought about all the things I’ve gone through over the years. It was a challenging journey, but more beautiful than I could have imagined.”
Azza Fahmy’s autobiography. Photo: Toufic Araman/Courtesy of Azza Fahmy Jewellery
The book doesn’t only talk about Fahmy as a designer, but also gives an insight into her life as a daughter. She narrates the smallest details of her “legendary world” with her father, who instilled in her a love of knowledge and taught her many valuable lessons before he passed away when she was 13. She explains the transitional period from her luxurious childhood to the life of a simple Egyptian family.
Fifty years ago, Fahmy started her journey to becoming one of the most recognized jewelry designers in the Arab world. From the beginning, she set an important goal for herself: translating the authentic cultures of the societies of the Middle East into designs and introducing them to the world. In doing this, she did extensive research on traditional handicrafts and the continual efforts to preserve them. Being one of the most influential women in Egypt, she traveled around the globe as a cultural ambassador for her country.
An image from the book. Photo: Courtesy of Azza Fahmy Jewellery
Fahmy’s dedication and captivating designs have gained global recognition. She has a diverse list of clients and fans from around the globe, including royalty and celebrities. Fahmy works in partnership with her daughters Amina and Fatima Ghali, the CEO of the brand.
Read Next: Saudi Designer Daneh Buahmad Celebrates a Decade Since Her Brand’s Launch
Originally published in the October 2021 issue of Vogue Arabia
Makeup: Fatima Al Asmar
