Flair Magazine Jewelry is the quintessential part of a wardrobe. An outfit is not complete without accessories and while there are many brands that strive for excellence very few achieve it. Good jewelry is not only beautiful, but makes a statement; combing good craftsmanship, attention to detail and high-quality raw materials. In 2015, the then 19-year-old Yomna Zaki created her jewelry brand, Ivory Bohemian Art. Known today more simply as Ivory, there are few companies that can say they have not only made it through, but thrived in this difficult economy. Ivory is evolving and has undergone a major glow-up in the last few years, moving from simple everyday jewelry to large statement pieces that are not only beautiful, yet bold. The rare raw materials, gold, and fresh designs have made the newest collection, Meraki one-of-a-kind. “Millions of people have dreams, but not many people take those dreams forward to actually achieve their goal,” says Yomna who sat down with Flair Magazine to talk about her passion for jewelry and her company’s newest line.
Q: Your newest two collections are called Meraki. What does Meraki mean?
A: It’s a word that modern Greeks often use to describe what happens when you leave a piece of yourself, your soul, your creativity or love in your work. There is no English equivalent for this word. Meraki is, unsurprisingly, untranslatable.
Q: What inspired your latest jewelry line Meraki and Meraki II?
A: I don’t want to do anything that has been done before, I don’t see the point, innovation is key for me. I wanted to allow the gemstones to speak for themselves and be the main center of attraction. I carefully select them while traveling. Meraki was mainly inspired by stones from Cape Town, Brussels and Beirut.
Q: Tell us a story about one of the pieces of jewelry
A: When I was in Brussels, I got a few raw Labradorite stones. Labradorite is an iridescent gemstone with a fascinating metallic luster when viewed from certain angles. One of the shades is peacock blue and I had to search for the same shade in the Aquamarine family, which took quite some time. The result was beautiful and absolutely worth it!
Q: What do you want women to feel when wearing your jewelry?
A: Every woman should feel unique, beautiful and edgy in the jewelry that she wears. Jewelry is the thing that you can put on with a T-shirt and jeans and depending on what it is, can completely change your look. I strive to create designs that become the staples in your wardrobe; pieces that can go from business meetings to a party flawlessly.
Q: What is your favorite part of being an entrepreneur?
A: The freedom to express my creativity, the whole process is very exciting, from identifying the materials to drawing samples! It’s very rewarding when my customers love my work. Also, since starting my business, I feel as though I have grown exponentially as a person through the challenges I have faced and this, in turn, has helped me bring more value to the business—from time management to being more self-aware. There is always something different going on, it isn’t always easy but at least I know I won’t be bored.
Contact Ivory:
Email: Ivoryshopegypt@gmail.com
Instagram: Ivory Bohemian Art
Shop Locations: ABn’G store in Zamalek, Cairo or Kaf Fatma store in Maadi, Cairo
Photo Credit & Creative Direction
Photography: Baher Khairy
Styling: Jessica Toutounji
Location: Photopia Studio
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Amy N. Pugsley
