KeiSei Magazine
  • Fashion
    • Style
    • Ethical Talks
    • Editorials
  • Beauty
    • Skincare
    • Beauty Edit
  • Lifestyle
    • Wellbeing
    • Culture
    • Home
    • Guides
  • Inspiration
    • In Conversation With
    • The Climate Optimist
    • Editors Journal
    • Book Club
  • Shop
    • Fashion
      • Tops
      • Bottoms
      • Knitwear
      • Dresses & Jumpsuits
      • Outwear
      • Activewear
      • Jeans
    • Accessories
      • Bags
      • Hats & Bonnets
      • Scarves
      • Shoes
    • Beauty
      • Skincare
      • Hair
      • Body
      • Make-up
KeiSei Magazine
  • Fashion
    • Style
    • Ethical Talks
    • Editorials
  • Beauty
    • Skincare
    • Beauty Edit
  • Lifestyle
    • Wellbeing
    • Culture
    • Home
    • Guides
  • Inspiration
    • In Conversation With
    • The Climate Optimist
    • Editors Journal
    • Book Club
  • Shop
    • Fashion
      • Tops
      • Bottoms
      • Knitwear
      • Dresses & Jumpsuits
      • Outwear
      • Activewear
      • Jeans
    • Accessories
      • Bags
      • Hats & Bonnets
      • Scarves
      • Shoes
    • Beauty
      • Skincare
      • Hair
      • Body
      • Make-up
0

Wishlist

Please, add your first item to the wishlist

  • In Conversation With

Celebrating Women: Aya Ahmad

  • 3 minute read
Aya Ahmad
Aya Ahmad

By Beatrice Tridimas

Entrepreneur, designer and diamantaire, Aya Ahmad is changing the face of luxury jewellery. Her sustainable jewellery brand, Fyne, is ethical, affordable and sophisticated, the perfect solution for the climate conscious consumer.

For the second in our Celebrating Women series, we were utterly inspired by Fyne’s gorgeous jewels to speak to founder, Aya, about what it’s like being a female pioneer in an industry notoriously dominated by men.

Growing up in Belgium to Lebanese parents and a family of diamantaires, Aya wasn’t sure she fit in the male heavy industry until she found herself studying a GIA course and fronting her own jewellery company.

What was it like to grow up in a family of diamantaires?

My grandfather started working in the industry and then my father had a few brothers as well and they all started working in the industry. I never expected myself to go into diamonds because I felt like that was just something the men would do. 

When I decided to do my GIA course in London, and then I moved back from London to Belgium, I was the first woman in my family to work in the industry. I kind of felt like I wanted to prove myself, so it motivated me to work harder. I definitely stood out. I was one of the few women in the Antwerp diamond market that was working with rough diamonds, as well, so it was very interesting.

What does it mean to be a woman with her own company in the diamond industry?

That’s a very good question. There are a lot of industries that are very heavily male dominated, such a banking, I think by the nature of the industry itself. However, it is changing, there’s a lot more women starting their own jewellery brands.

More women are going into private jewellery consulting and brokerage for the wholesale market. But I think there is kind of an intimidation to go into an industry that is heavily dominated by males as well.

Photo from Fyne's brand campaign, founded by Aya Ahmad

What does it mean to be successful?

I just, I’ve always been an advocate of women working and doing something that they’re passionate about. They don’t even need to be making a lot of money, it’s just the fact that they’re doing something for themselves. In my society – not in Belgium necessarily, but in Lebanon and the Gulf – a lot of women from the previous generation were stay at home moms, you know.

It wasn’t seen as necessary to work because they’d take care of the children and that was already enough, time consuming… but what happened is a lot of them have grown up with the feeling of not having enough self worth because most of their life was given towards their children. I see this a lot within my own family, and I feel like having something that you’re really passionate about and you’re working is a success enough. 

If you’re a woman and you’re able to do something for yourself that’s ‘selfish’ – I think that’s key and that will generate happiness. That’s what I find as being successful because it’s already hard enough to establish your own business and manage everything.

What’s it like being a woman in the sustainable businesses?

I think the majority of sustainable businesses that I’ve found, especially in Dubai, are female founded. There have been a few male fashion designers that I came across that are doing sustainable things but the majority is female, I’m not sure why that is? 

I think women naturally are more emotional beings, so being sustainable and implementing sustainability in your life comes from more of a mindful and conscious point of view…

Who’s your biggest inspiration?

From a design perspective, definitely Zaha Hadid. She repeatedly excelled in a male dominated industry and was the first woman to win the Pritzker Prize of Architecture. It is also inspiring to see a woman of Arab origin making a name for herself that will go down in history books.

 

We also talked to Aya more about her brand and sustainability in the jewellery industry, which you can read here.

Beatrice Tridimas

Beatrice Tridimas

Beatrice is an ethicist and book-lover, pursuing her passion for writing at KeiSei whilst studying for a masters degree at UCL. She graduated from the University of Edinburgh earlier this year.

Beatrice Tridimas

Previous Article
Florence Kosky portrait
  • In Conversation With

Celebrating Women: Florence Kosky

View Post
Next Article
Patrick Mcdowell
  • In Conversation With
  • INSPIRATION

Social Distancing With Patrick McDowell

View Post

KeiSei Weekly:

Sign-Up For A Weekly Dose Of Sustainable Lifestyle Inspiration

You May Also Like
The Ultimate Guide To Creating A Sustainable Home
View Post
  • Guides
  • Home

The Ultimate Guide To Creating A Sustainable Home

  • Cecilia Toro
  • April 6, 2022
A modern, minimalistic living room with muted, natural tones and modern furniture. Photographed by Nicole Franzen.
View Post
  • Home

We Need To Talk About Fast Homeware

  • Ellen Prizeman
  • April 6, 2022
Alicja Kwade, "Big Be-Hide", 2017. photo by Maija Toivanen:Helsinki Biennial⁣⁣
View Post
  • Culture

What Does Sustainability Mean For The Art World?

  • Eleonora Cerasoli
  • April 6, 2022
View Post
  • Home

How To Implement The Danish Principles Of Hygge

  • Raegan Rubin
  • April 6, 2022
living space
View Post
  • Home

Get Cosy For Autumn With These Sustainable Interior Trends

  • Sophie Weissensteiner
  • April 6, 2022
Intentional Shopping: How To Shop Mindfully On A High Street Budget
View Post
  • ETHICAL TALKS

Intentional Shopping: How To Shop Mindfully On A High Street Budget

  • Charlotte Hope-Shannon
  • January 11, 2022
bathroom
View Post
  • Home

How To Give Your Bathroom A Sustainable Makeover

  • Lily Corcoran
  • April 6, 2022
5 Tips for Dealing with Climate News
View Post
  • The Climate Optimist

Awareness Hurts & That’s OK, 5 Tips for Dealing with Climate News

  • Anne Therese Gennari
  • December 22, 2021
2 comments
  1. Pingback: 6 Inspiring Women Talk To Us About Women In Business And Sustainability
  2. Pingback: 6 Inspiring Women Talk About Female In Business And Sustainability

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

KeiSei Weekly

Sign-Up for more Inspiration on Sustainable Living and Style Direct to Your Inbox

⁠ 57 5
Want to be in on a secret? ⁠ 42 2
Skincare or hair care? ⁠ 36 2
Have you been invited to a Halloween party and need some inspiration? ⁠ 25 1
Are you making the most of the cocooning season? ⁠ 37 2
Have you tried rental fashion yet?⁠ 41 3
KeiSei Magazine
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Terms of service
  • Privacy policy
© 2020 KeiSei Magazine Ltd.

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT