WELCOME to our little treasure chest here on the web! It gives us much joy to share with you our family’s story and passion for all small things that dazzle and sparkle in a big way!
I would like to start out with a story. A story that is the foundation of our family’s passion. The passion to be able to design, craft, and create those small things in your life that start with a sparkle around your neck, wrist, fingers and result in smiles on your face and everyone’s face around you.
My grandfather started a jewelry workshop in 1956 based out of Cairo, Egypt. He came from humble beginnings, but under his guidance and vision, this tiny workshop grew quickly to something beyond his own dreams. Establishing international presence in the accessories space, my grandfather never deviated from his core values and passion. Always focused on bringing beautiful and unique costume jewels and smiles with all encounters was the focused rhetoric we always heard and saw from my grandfather.
A phenomenal man, with a unique and inspiring story, he faced many hardships. With all the struggles that came along, he stood like a rock displaying unwavering perseverance and faith that his dream would be a reality. We never heard a complaint come from his mouth, he never seemed to get caught up in the troubles that passed our way, but with each struggle worked hard and focused. Growing up he did not receive any formal schooling, so he taught himself how to read and write, and started designing jewelry as a means to provide for his family. The workshop he built from the ground up as a very young man expanded in 1961 to a rhinestone jewelry manufacturing house. In the 1990’s a new factory called Shimmer & Glitz was built with the latest casting technology in the free zone, a suburb of Cairo. Adding Shimmer & Glitz in the free zone allowed us to share our treasures internationally.
Today I am honored to broaden this vision, and open up more of the world to our designs. My grandfather has taught me so much, and I am excited to share that with all of you.
My story is unique and unconventional as well. I was born in Cairo, Egypt and I moved to the bay area, California when I was 8 years old. We would spend every summer vacation in Egypt, and every summer I would go visit the factory with my grandfather. My cousins and I would go and try on all the fabulous jewelry, and witness how each piece of jewelry came to life as we put it on and pretended to be movie stars, princesses, dancers, etc. Nothing was too far from our vivid imaginations. As soon as I got home at the end of the fairy tale day I spent at the factory, I would pull out my sketch book and sketch my designs as I dreamed of being a designer, just like my grandfather.
In high school I was on Nordstrom’s BP Fashion Board, where I learned about design and merchandizing. I worked at Nordstrom while I was in college, to support my fashion needs and my college tuition. In college I couldn’t decide what to major in, so to help resolve this issue, I took a career aptitude test, and it pointed me in the direction of Electrical Engineering. I took a couple of EE courses, and LOVED them. At that point it was a done deal. I would be majoring in Electrical Engineering. I graduated from Santa Clara University with my Bachelors and Masters in Electrical Engineering. In 2010 my path lead me to Stanford Graduate School of Business Ignite Entrepreneurship program, which I highly recommend. During the course of the program I started thinking about many different projects and products including how I can design Jewelry for the modern woman. I’m now an Electrical Engineer working at Facebook. Facebook fueled the entrepreneurship spirit within me. I love working at Facebook, they encourage imagination and entrepreneurship. So here I am today. I work hard and live with passion and faith. My technical aptitude never compromised my passion and dream to be a designer. In fact, I feel enriched to have the combination of both. What I am saying is, ‘Yes, it is true. You can be an engineer and a fashion designer all at the same time.’ You can have numerous passions, and you can pursue as many of them as you would like! My passion for both is so deep. I’m here today encouraging all of you to follow your dreams and be a CEO and a humanitarian, be a Doctor and a crafter, be teacher and builder. Follow your passions and dreams, don’t let anyone, (especially yourself), stop you.
Just always remember to add a little sparkle, and live the fabulous life that you desire.
I would like to start out with a story. A story that is the foundation of our family’s passion. The passion to be able to design, craft, and create those small things in your life that start with a sparkle around your neck, wrist, fingers and result in smiles on your face and everyone’s face around you.
My grandfather started a jewelry workshop in 1956 based out of Cairo, Egypt. He came from humble beginnings, but under his guidance and vision, this tiny workshop grew quickly to something beyond his own dreams. Establishing international presence in the accessories space, my grandfather never deviated from his core values and passion. Always focused on bringing beautiful and unique costume jewels and smiles with all encounters was the focused rhetoric we always heard and saw from my grandfather.
A phenomenal man, with a unique and inspiring story, he faced many hardships. With all the struggles that came along, he stood like a rock displaying unwavering perseverance and faith that his dream would be a reality. We never heard a complaint come from his mouth, he never seemed to get caught up in the troubles that passed our way, but with each struggle worked hard and focused. Growing up he did not receive any formal schooling, so he taught himself how to read and write, and started designing jewelry as a means to provide for his family. The workshop he built from the ground up as a very young man expanded in 1961 to a rhinestone jewelry manufacturing house. In the 1990’s a new factory called Shimmer & Glitz was built with the latest casting technology in the free zone, a suburb of Cairo. Adding Shimmer & Glitz in the free zone allowed us to share our treasures internationally.
Today I am honored to broaden this vision, and open up more of the world to our designs. My grandfather has taught me so much, and I am excited to share that with all of you.
My story is unique and unconventional as well. I was born in Cairo, Egypt and I moved to the bay area, California when I was 8 years old. We would spend every summer vacation in Egypt, and every summer I would go visit the factory with my grandfather. My cousins and I would go and try on all the fabulous jewelry, and witness how each piece of jewelry came to life as we put it on and pretended to be movie stars, princesses, dancers, etc. Nothing was too far from our vivid imaginations. As soon as I got home at the end of the fairy tale day I spent at the factory, I would pull out my sketch book and sketch my designs as I dreamed of being a designer, just like my grandfather.
In high school I was on Nordstrom’s BP Fashion Board, where I learned about design and merchandizing. I worked at Nordstrom while I was in college, to support my fashion needs and my college tuition. In college I couldn’t decide what to major in, so to help resolve this issue, I took a career aptitude test, and it pointed me in the direction of Electrical Engineering. I took a couple of EE courses, and LOVED them. At that point it was a done deal. I would be majoring in Electrical Engineering. I graduated from Santa Clara University with my Bachelors and Masters in Electrical Engineering. In 2010 my path lead me to Stanford Graduate School of Business Ignite Entrepreneurship program, which I highly recommend. During the course of the program I started thinking about many different projects and products including how I can design Jewelry for the modern woman. I’m now an Electrical Engineer working at Facebook. Facebook fueled the entrepreneurship spirit within me. I love working at Facebook, they encourage imagination and entrepreneurship. So here I am today. I work hard and live with passion and faith. My technical aptitude never compromised my passion and dream to be a designer. In fact, I feel enriched to have the combination of both. What I am saying is, ‘Yes, it is true. You can be an engineer and a fashion designer all at the same time.’ You can have numerous passions, and you can pursue as many of them as you would like! My passion for both is so deep. I’m here today encouraging all of you to follow your dreams and be a CEO and a humanitarian, be a Doctor and a crafter, be teacher and builder. Follow your passions and dreams, don’t let anyone, (especially yourself), stop you.
Just always remember to add a little sparkle, and live the fabulous life that you desire.