Egyptian artist Wehad Samir sits in her home, surrounded by all kinds of bric-à-brac, which has inspired to make unique accessories for women. "For example, I've used bottle tops to make rings," she says, adding that the secret to recycling old stuff is discovering its beauty and combining different stuff without drawing the design on paper. Wehad is an accessories designer, always trying to create something new and unusual, breaking away from traditional ideas in her designs, no matter whether other Egyptians approve or disapprove. "The idea sprang to my mind when I found that I had a lot of stuff in my kitchen that still could be used ��" things with beautiful colours and shapes that it would have been a shame to throw out," adds Wahad, a professor of accessories at the Higher Institute for Fine Arts in Cairo. Her home contains kitchen utensils, light bulbs, mobile charge cards, nails, keys, pens and pencils, bottles tops, matches, accessories and old watches. According to Wehad, all these things can be used to make unique accessories for women. "My first appearance in public wearing accessories made from these things was an eye-opener. Some people didn't like it, as the idea was new," she told the Egyptian Mail, noting that it soon caught on with many women, who wanted to know how to make such accessories. "These accessories fit all ages, although women over 45 might prefer some to others," explains Wehad, stressing that they add to the prestige of more mature women. However, they're not suitable for headscarf-wearing ladies, because they attract the attention of others, while women who wear the hijab (the Islamic headgear) aren't meant to attract attention by wearing untraditional accessories. The notion of recycling old stuff is not new in foreign societies; Germany in particular is very zealous about doing so. The news agencies recently carried a story about famous football players' shirts being made from plastic waste, including Brazil and Portugal's stars, currently playing in the World Cup in South Africa. Because of all the interest, Wahad is going to showcase her accessories at an exhibition in Paris. She adds that, due to the increasing popularity in Egypt, she has started selling bags and photos advertising her franchise, protected by intellectual property rights. Wehad has recently held a workshop in Cairo. "I really want to spread training students at local universities who are interested in this," she says.
