You have heard her name before, but did you know that Dina Maghawry Design just relaunched her showroom in Zamalek? I sat down with the Artiste herself to discuss her newest outlet, designs and welcome her back to the island.
Finally happy to see you back in Zamalek, why did the store take so long to open? And what’s different about it compared to the previous one?
I preferred to wait a bit, putting into consideration this year’s political & social situation, until the time was right. I chose a time where people would be more stable and less worried, where they would be looking forward to the opening, and not fully preoccupied with the country’s fate & course of events.
What is different about this showroom is that it’s obvious, it’s out there, it calls you in, it’s not hidden inside a building or confined to an apartment. My love for art and beauty is reflected loudly in the store as it looks more like an art space rather than a jewelry shop.
How many collections are being displayed and can you tell us a bit about each one (materials used, theme, etc.?)
Four to five different collections are displayed at the store.
Patina is an antiques-oriented collection where pieces are made of patinated and oxidized silver mixed with rose cut diamonds and enamels; giving them this vintage-y,rich look.
Patrie is a tribute to Egypt, where pieces are adorned with symbols that represent the country, such as the 5 piaster coin, the old flag of Egypt or the famous Nesr El Gomhoureya.
Objet D’Art is Bohemia at its best – very colorful, bright, and artistic. All pieces combine colored enamels in bright greens, blues and yellows with chunky glowing semi-precious stones.
My latest line ‘El Gamar Buba’ (a.k.a. Nubia), is truly inspired by our Nubian heritage. Made mainly of red & yellow copper, and always a semi-precious stone involved, I used some classic Nubian motifs, and modernized them a bit to suit the current taste.
What are you price ranges?
Whatever your budget is, I am sure you will walk away happy! Earrings, bracelets, necklaces and rings can start at EGP 150 and go all the way up to EGP 5,000, depending on the material and size of the piece.
What was your main inspiration and what led you to be the designer you are today?
An inspiration springs from the subconscious, which is originally influenced by one’s upbringing, experiences & state of mind. In my case, my country inspires me; I’m a hardcore Egyptian in every sense of the word. Other cultures that inspire me are of India, Spain & Iran. All that is vintage, old & antique is also something else that contributes to my inspiration. And last but not least, my love for nature is behind most of my work.
We noticed really cool photography, paintings and furniture by young Egyptian artists in the store. Are you going to do any collaborative work with Egyptian artists?
One of my main objectives is to encourage and promote Egyptian artists, and I will dedicate a big part and space of my shop to that. I plan on holding a monthly exhibition by one or 2 artists, on a regular basis.
We know you’re a true Egyptian at heart, obviously you have a collection on its own for that, so can you tell us who’s your favorite Egyptian artist (painter, author, designer, thinker, celebrity, even jewelry designer …)?
(Giggles) Wow! I don’t know where to start; we have an extremely rich history of art, music and culture, which is big enough to inspire & impress the whole world, let alone me. I would need a whole section to write down all the names I admire, but to sum it up, I love the golden era of Egyptian cinema (40’s, 50’s, & 60’s), all those old singers and composers, belly dancers like Samia Gamal, Taheya Karioka, and Soheir Zaky, followed years later by unforgettable performances and energies of people like Sherihan. As for my favorite jewelry designer, the Oscar goes to Suzan El Masry and Azza Fahmy of course!
Do you see yourself in the foreign market?
Yes I do, but I am not pushing for it because I am not in a hurry. My priority now is to be recognized in my beautiful country.
Contact Information
Address: 23 Hassan Assem Street, Zamalek (second left after you enter Brazil Street)
next to Hana BBQ Korean Restaurant.
Opening Hours: Daily 11 am – 4 pm, 6 pm- 11 pm, closed on Fridays.
Tel: 02-27369026 / 01287566014
Twitter: @dmaghawry
FB: facebook.com/Dina-Maghawry-Design-JEWELRY