Exclusive: Interview with Zinab Chahine from Ctrl+ Z Jewellery

Two years ago I was browsing Facebook searching for a nice group that sells handmade Jewellery, I came across one called Ctrl + Z, the name seduced me to enter, only to find tons and tons of funky, very creative and trendy pieces made by a Lebanese girl called  Zinab Chahine, but to my bad luck I found it to be based in Beirut, I contacted Zinab, she was so friendly and welcoming as I was her first ever real customer, her pieces charmed me and I decided to make a long plan with a very long trip just to have them, so I picked 5 pieces and arranged with my Danish manager who was going to Beirut to get them for me, and then he meet my colleague in Amman, Jordon, and gave him my stuff, that stayed with him for a long business trip to Libya and Syria, and then came home to me. I remember this male colleague telling me " Please show me what I was carrying with me all that time and asked was it worth all that effort, and when I showed him he simply answered himself, yes it worth it.
From time to time, I either use the fact that someone is traveling or wait for her to come to Cairo for a short visit to put my hand on the jewellery that I want and have some bracelets and necklaces custom made for me. I now have a special drawer in my jewelery storage for my Ctrl + Z pieces.

One of the first necklaces I got from Ctrl + Z

and these earrings too

My one of a kind necklace, the necklace itself not the pendant was part of a vintage belly dancing belt

Zinab got inspired from my "Shanbo" post and made this

Two years later Chahine found her other half and moved to live in Egypt, and I can't tell you how happy I was to hear such good news, now I can have all Ctrl +Z jewellery I have by just driving to Zamalek or Maadi.

I will leave you now with the interview I conducted with her

Tell us a brief about your self Zinab.

I'm 25 years old.  I lived in the states until I was 18 then Beirut for 7 years and now fresh in Cairo. I studied graphic design and am working on my masters. 

How did you start?

I was taking apart a collage from my senior project that dealt with poverty. One image was of a poor looking Arab man. I was going to a club that night and randomly strung it on a long leather cord. It received a ton of compliments and from there I started making random things for myself.  When I wore what I had made, strangers asked me where did I buy it and I simply said I made it and you can buy this one for yourself. 

What inspires you ?

When I started I was sort of new to Lebanon and I was craving jewelry that had a middle eastern influence.  The only things I can find were super expensive and I thought it was unfair that I had to save money from a week's salary just to buy a piece of jewelry. From the very start I was using images of Egyptian cinema posters, although I couldn't understand half what the film was saying I really loved the imagery and quirky titles. I use images of famous icons like Fairouz, Om Kalthom and many others. I'm very well known for my naughty words that I use a lot in jewelry like" toz feek" and "7el 3an tezi".  I use images of words like I ♥ koshary and I ♥ baba.  

Tell us the most embarrassing story that happened to you since started your career.

When I decided that I wanted to sell my work at a boutique I had no idea how to get started, like which shop or how payment and sales work.  I took my items to a very famous boutique in Beirut and they liked it and wanted to sell there.  They asked me how much percentage consignment I take.  I told them I have no idea that I really know nothing about selling jewelry.  The owner and the employees started laughing at me in a very rude way and told me that they would get me 10 $ for each item. Thankfully I didn't accept that and after years of doing this I see how wrong they were because designers are supposed to get a set percentage. They ended up contacting me a few years later, to tell me they want me to sell there and the items did very very well and after a few months they stopped selling my work without even telling me until a month later... hehe I should have seen that coming! 

Tell us about the best piece of jewelry you created so far.

My favorite item is the custom charm bracelets.  I have around 12 boxes of charms that I take with me to events. You simply choose gold or silver and start creating your own bracelet and in the end you choose the chain and together we design it.  This is very fun because it's nice to see how creative people can get and the bracelets are so personal and differ from person to person. 

What's your favourite jewelery designer?

Margaux Lange Jewelry. She takes apart barbie dolls and makes jewelry with them, so awesome!

You are a Lebanese living in Egypt, from your point of view what's the difference between Cairo and Beirut ?

It's funny to see how the most popular item differs from country to country.  For example in Beirut rings are the most popular items, in Morocco it's all about pins, and here in Cairo it's custom made charm bracelets.  I've noticed that girls here are more into customizing their jewelry than the girls in Beirut, and I love that! 

Decribe your style.

Pretty laid back.. leggings with dresses and I am always with black flats or flat tall black boots, never ever heels.  I don't wear much jewelry, the only item you would find me wearing, is the extra large earrings or an extra large pin on my scarf. 

 

Where can we find your work in all the middle east ?

I sell at The Union in Lebanon, Fortune Cookie in Kuwait, Pinkdust in Jordan, 33 Rue Majorelle in Morocco and in Egypt I sell at Zafir in Zamalak, Townhouse Gallery in downtown and Weeka Anteeka in Nasr City. and you can always come to my home in Maadi and get jewelry.  It's actually a much more comfy setting than events and you can come anytime day or night.. don't be shy :)
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