Accessories can make a nice addition to an outfit or just a way to update your look. Unfortunately, the slew of foreign brands that have taken over the market have resulted in an increase in price of most accessories. Bassem Biso is trying to change that through his start-up B.B Designs. "I make accessories rather than jewellery as I use many materials that are not usually used in jewellery like lather threads, wood, copper and stainless steel," said Biso. His interest in making accessories started early in life. "I used to help my family members choose their accessories, as well as with modifying the accessories' designs," he said. "I also found that men's accessories were very scarce and did not match my style. So, I used to buy them and modify them. That is when I decided to start my own business in this field, without having any formal training, but I watched many educational videos about accessory-making on Youtube, which was really helpful." Biso also makes home interior accessories such as paintings and light units. The materials used in B.B Designs are all locally-sourced. "I depend on natural high quality, hypoallergenic materials like leather threads, wood, stones, copper, cotton threads, as well as stainless steel," Biso said. "All these materials are available in Khan El-Khalili area." Biso's creative process is simple and he usually finds inspiration from life around him. "It starts with an idea, which should be extremely new and fresh," he said. "Sometimes, the material itself leads me to an idea. I usually release two collections per month. To achieve that I have to work for four or five hours per day." Biso mainly conducts his business on Facebook through B.B Designs page. "My clients can order any of my designs, but I also take part in many fairs, open days and galleries," he said. Men are also included in B.B Designs. "I offer bracelets and necklaces, and, as I mentioned before, the main reason I decided to design male accessories was that I found it very difficult to get an elegant yet affordable accessories for men," Biso said. As for the most popular pieces, he said that female customers usually go for the owl accessories and that men usually go for shackle bracelets and anchors.
