ABOUT

I am a fashion and surface pattern designer based in Boston. I find inspiration in ethnic clothing, embroidery, and crafts, as well as feminine vintage silhouettes and often combine both influences in my designs. 

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I am fascinated by the history of fashion, and how the clothes we wear relate to the social, political, and art movements of the time. I am especially passionate about researching my Egyptian cultural heritage. I am also interested in exploring the clothing/motifs of West Asia, East Africa, and Eastern and Central Europe, regions where my great grandparents were from.

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I caught the sewing bug as a child watching my mother make beautiful clothes for herself and matching outfits for my sister and me. By the age of 10, I could use a sewing machine and started making myself clothes from Burda patterns. In my teens, I started collecting fabrics, first by "borrowing" fabrics from my mother's and grandmother's collections, and then by exploring the wholesale fabric and notions markets in Cairo where I grew up. In high school, I started making handbags out of brightly colored striped Egyptian cotton duck. The bags caught my friends' attention and turned into a small business throughout college.

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As an adult, I finally pursued my passion and formally studied fashion design to expand my skills. In addition to improving my sewing skills, I learned to drape, draft my own patterns, and design a cohesive collection. I also discovered my love for textile/surface pattern design and watercolor illustrations.