ANTY JEWELRY

How did you become interested in fashion design?

I’ve always loved fashion and jewelry, but I never imagined that I would become a designer in the traditional sense. My background is actually in economics, and I had a career in government and international development.

Jewelry was always the creative part of my life. I would design pieces for myself because I often couldn’t find exactly what I wanted to wear. I was very particular about the details, the shape, and how a piece felt.

When I moved to the U.S. at 27, I brought that part of myself with me. Then the pandemic changed everything. I had left my job, life slowed down, and I finally had the space to think seriously about what I wanted to do next.

I realized I had been carrying this passion for jewelry for years. ANTY was really the moment I decided to stop treating it as something on the side and give it a life of its own.

What’s your design philosophy?

I believe jewelry should feel personal. I’m interested in pieces that have a strong visual presence, but I don’t want the design to overpower the person wearing it. I want there to be room for her personality.

I’m also very interested in the conversation between the past and the present. Growing up in Egypt gave me a deep appreciation for symbolism, architecture, art, and craftsmanship. I don’t want to simply recreate those things. I want to reinterpret them in a way that feels natural today.

For me, the best piece is one that catches your attention initially, but becomes more meaningful the longer you live with it.

Who are your design influences?

Egypt is one of my deepest influences. I grew up surrounded by thousands of years of history, architecture, symbolism, and craftsmanship, so those references are naturally part of how I see things.

Travel has also had a huge influence on me. Living in the U.S. and experiencing different cities and cultures has given me a much broader perspective. I find myself drawn to the contrast between Eastern and Western aesthetics and to the way different environments shape how people express themselves.

And then there are women themselves. I’m fascinated by individuality—how one woman can wear something in a completely different way from another. That’s something I love about jewelry. The designer creates the piece, but the wearer gives it another life.

What’s your process for designing a new collection?

I usually begin with an idea rather than a product. It might be a symbol, a cultural reference, an architectural form, or simply something visually interesting that stays with me.

When the inspiration comes from history or culture, understanding the meaning behind it is important to me. I don’t want to use a symbol simply because it looks beautiful. I want to understand its significance and then find my own way of interpreting it.

From there, the idea develops through design, refinement, and craftsmanship. I’m very conscious of proportion and how a piece will actually live on the body. My economics background probably makes me more analytical than people might expect from a designer. I enjoy the creative part, but I also enjoy editing—asking what really needs to be there and what doesn’t.

How do you balance creativity with wearability in your designs?

I don’t see creativity and wearability as opposites. I love pieces that are sculptural or unexpected, but I always want them to feel natural once they’re on the person. Jewelry should become part of your life, not something you feel you have to perform in.

I think about how a piece works with a simple outfit, how it can be layered, and whether you can imagine wearing it again and again. Even when a design is bold, I want the woman wearing it to remain the focus. The jewelry should feel like an expression of her, not a costume.

How do you stay inspired?

I stay curious. I’m inspired by travel, architecture, art, historical objects, fashion, and the details of everyday life. I love walking through a new city and noticing things without necessarily looking for inspiration.

Museums and architecture are particularly important to me because they make me think about form, proportion, materials, and the passage of time. I also think living between cultures has shaped my creative perspective. Egypt is where I come from, but my experience in the U.S. and the places I’ve traveled have become part of how I see the world. I don’t think inspiration needs to be forced. You just have to pay attention.

How important is collaboration in fashion design?

Very important. I don’t think creativity has to happen in isolation. Working with my sister, Engy, has taught me that differences in perspective can actually make the work stronger. We don’t always agree, but there is a lot of love and respect underneath those disagreements, and sometimes that tension leads us to an idea that neither of us would have reached alone.

I’m also passionate about supporting and collaborating with women designers, particularly immigrant designers. I understand what it means to build something in a new environment, and I believe people deserve to have their creativity and contribution recognized.

What’s the most challenging aspect of being a fashion designer?

For me, the challenge is balancing the creative side with everything that comes with building a company. When you’re the founder, you don’t only think about the design. You think about the customer, craftsmanship, production, business decisions, growth, and the future of the brand.

My economics background has actually been useful in that respect. It taught me how to analyze, make decisions, and look at the bigger picture. Design has taught me to trust instinct and emotion. ANTY sits somewhere between those two sides of me, and learning how to give both of them space has been one of the most interesting parts of the journey.

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned about fashion design?

That people connect with meaning as much as they connect with beauty. Jewelry is incredibly intimate. It sits on your body, becomes part of your everyday life, and can carry memories for years.

I may create a piece with a particular story or inspiration, but once someone wears it, it becomes part of her story. That is much more meaningful to me than simply creating something beautiful.

What’s next for you in your fashion design career?

I want ANTY to continue growing internationally while remaining true to the perspective that created it. We’re building our presence in markets including Kuwait, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia, while developing relationships with select retailers, boutiques, and luxury partners.

Ultimately, I want ANTY to become more than a jewelry label. I want it to become a house with a recognizable point of view—one that can grow beyond me and become part of other people’s stories.