The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2023 - Issue 34

bitejewellery Okhtein Giedre Jackyte looks at Okhtein’s new jewellery collection by Egyptian siblings Aya and Mounaz Abdel Raouf and their unbreakable sisterly bond. U nder the golden Egyptian sun, a bond was forged be- tween two sisters with a passion for crafting luxury. Aya and Mounaz Abdel Raouf, creative souls and entrepre- neurs, built the Okhtein (meaning ‘sisters’ in Arabic) accessories empire from the ground up. Their passions took root in their childhood and blossomed throughout their studies in Cairo. At the American University, Aya’s communication, media arts and digital design studies stoked her creative flames. Mean- while, Mounaz explored marketing and fine art classes that nurtured her painting talents. Her avant-garde works have since headlined exhibitions in Paris and her hometown galleries. After launching their line of handbags over a decade ago, Aya and Mounaz's burning desire to craft their jewellery only in- tensified. They would sketch designs at night, envisioning the perfect marriage of modern elegance and Egyptian symbolism. With a signature aesthetic honed through their globally em- braced handbag line, the sisters focused on the sparkling world of fine jewellery. The new Okhtein jewellery collection has been years in the making. While growing up in Cairo, it began as a dream, ad- miring their mother's timeless pieces. The sisters' childlike won- der at her glittering gold bangles, protective amulets and ornate necklaces left a lasting imprint. “Jewellery has been a passion since childhood when we dreamed of the pieces we would one day create,” Aya fondly reflected. Af- ter years of patience and perseverance, the siblings have trans- The Beauty of Sisterhood