Unraveling The Story of HUWA Brand's Men's Accessories

Discover the journey behind HUWA Brand's men's accessories!

1. Hello, Hesham and Nancy, we're excited to know more about you, so we would like you to share with us about yourself?

We are siblings, born and raised in the gulf. We went to university in the UK and moved to Egypt 2016-2017. HUWA is a passion project first and foremost, Hisham has always loved Men’s fashion and his taste was admired by family and friends throughout the years. So, for him, exploring the idea of HUWA was just an extension of what he already loves to do for his own (turning a hobby into a busienss).That same passion Nancy shared but from a different angle and perspective. She believed there was a uniqueness to Hisham’s creativity and loved that they were going to explore an untapped market where they would eventually pave the way for Men’s fashion and Jewelry in Egypt. Hisham handles the creative side while Nancy handles the business side of HUWA.

2. As a female and designer we would like to know what inspired you to specialize in men's accessories?

 The creativity behind HUWA is led by Hisham first and foremost. He designs the pieces with the help of a great team. We think to be able to continuously deliver new ideas the process needs to include a self-check; would we buy it? Would we wear it? Would we gift it? It helps when a male is designing for other males. From a female perspective, HUWA is filling a gap in the market. While there are great endless options for female jewelry, there isn’t the same for males so we get to cater to both audiences, the stylish males and the stylish females in need of gifting.

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3. What initially sparked your passion for jewelry design for men? And could you tell us the story behind how your brand and its core philosophy?

This has been a passion of mine I’ve always loved accessories/ watches/ jewelry and fashion in general. I had been designing and putting together jewelry for myself, family and friends long before HUWA came about. I used to always collect stones when I travel. The lack of supply in Egypt for Men’s Jewelry was the opportunity that sparked a passion into a business. We then began to explore the different styles and tastes of men and create pieces for everyone and for every day.  

4. We know that your background spans Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and London. How has this diverse upbringing influenced your design style and approach to crafting men's accessories?

We believe recently there has been a great emphasis and awareness on local production, talent, creativity and brands. This is because the consumer is now able to compare the local quality to standards they have seen abroad, international standards. Thankfully, due to our diverse upbringing we were very familiar with those standards and very fortunately we were able to create with that in mind and deliver due to great Egyptian craftsmanship.

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5. In a world where men's accessories are often overlooked, what motivated you to carve a niche in this industry?

Its because men’s accessories are often overlooked that we wanted to change the perception and normalize the importance of Men’s jewelry. We have been witnessing the growth in demand year on year since we began in 2017. So were very grateful we were able to envision this reality before many.

6. Can you tell us more about the materials you use and how they contribute to the uniqueness and durability of your pieces?

We use a range of materials and the most durable kinds for the convenience of our clients, so they have options with competitive prices and are buying timeless pieces. We use Sterling Silver, Copper, Brass, silk thread, carbon fiber and 18k Gold. Each piece is an iconic form of self-expression; individually hand-crafted with the finest Egyptian artisanship finished with platinum or gold and is adorned with both precious and semi-precious stones.

7. Many of your pieces have symbolic significance. Could you share the inspiration behind some of these symbols and how they relate to the modern man's lifestyle?

We try every collection to do a different concept with a different inspiration, put the HUWA man into a different mood and give them interesting diversity in the options. And with every collection we try to keep our identity but make it wearable for the modern man. Each collection has a different meaning and story. 

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8. Men's fashion is evolving rapidly. How do you anticipate trends and incorporate them into your designs while maintaining the timeless essence of your brand?

 That’s a hard one, but I think jewelry is a little different then fashion in general and doesn’t follow the extremely fast moving/ and changing trends. Of course, you have to be aware of what's in and what’s not but I feel like we have a style and we just follow it and hope people like our work and ideas. 

9. Can you walk us through your creative process when designing a new piece? Where do you draw inspiration from, and how do you ensure each creation aligns with your brand's identity?

Honestly anything and everything inspires me. Every collection I sit and think of different ideas or things I saw that inspired me somehow and I filter and do my research until I settle on a concept or theme. I make a mood board and I share it with the team and we start working and designing each one separately so that no one is limited or affected by my thoughts only hahah. Then we sit and share all our ideas / designs and from there we bring things in together and connect. It’s always so much fun seeing how everyone took the same thing into a totally different direction and then how we can bring it all in together to feel like all of us and like a HUWA piece.

10. What were some of the main challenges you encountered when establishing your brand?

- The main challenge we encountered when establishing the brand was introducing the idea of Men’s Jewelry as a stand-alone concept. Not a couple of Men’s pieces designed under a female jewelry brand, rather an entire brand completely dedicated just for men. With that came the challenge of creating a production line that would support this idea, we needed to remind men that there were many ways you can enjoy jewelry without it being odd or uncomfortable. So, we made sure to develop products that were both statements and practical but the constant need for innovation can be challenging when there is a lack of resources and machinery required to assist your vision.