Written by: Noura Al-Swaiti, Photography: Patrick Sawaya, Makeup: Hessah Alsanea, Hair: L’oisaeu Salon, Clothes: FENDI
It’s not every day that you get to meet siblings that are not only bonded by unconditional trust but also share the same career path and passion for design skills. Meet siblings and the creative force behind jewelry brand DEUX PRECIEUX Hessa and Aljazi Al Rashed. Simply put, the sisters were born to be creative partners, and they have managed to shimmer in Kuwait’s jewelry scene through their creations. Dainty and geometrical, DEUX PRECIEUX’s designs refuse to go unnoticed.
3oud.com’s team has met up with the design duo at their family’s chalet in AlZour, a space that has quite captured the hearts and minds of 3oud.com’s team.
Hessa and Aljazi Al Rashed were dressed in Fendi’s first capsule collection for Resort 2022 by Creative Director Kim Jones. He wanted to create a capsule wardrobe with items that any woman would love to have in her wardrobe. The result? A well-balanced mix of lush outerwear and soft tailoring that showcases Jones’ effortless approach to elegance. The collection also pays tribute to the late designer Karl Lagerfeld, with outerwear that features Karligraphy monogram, Karl Lagerfeld’s inverted double F logo reimagined in cursive script.
We had many questions for Hessa and Aljazi about how they started out as a jewelry designer, what it’s like running their own business and what their future holds.
Tell us how you started your brand and what first led you in the direction of designing jewelry?
Jewelry has always been something we have been drawn to. We inherited our love for jewelry from our mother who had her own jewelry shop in the late 1970s that had a selection of unique jewelry pieces from Europe.
What inspires your designs?
Our designs are inspired by what we ourselves like to wear. We also draw inspiration from beautiful elements that surround us in our everyday lives. We are often inspired by geometric shapes. We love the versatility of being able to wear our pieces from day to night and the ease of layering them with your existing pieces to express your personal sense of style.
Tell us about your design style. What makes your collections unique in the industry?
We consider our design style to be contemporary with a modern edge. What we think makes our brand unique: edgy designs with quality craftsmanship with a timeless element to them nevertheless. We collaborate with an established jewelry house in Beirut: Nawbar Jewelry, who manufacture our pieces which guarantees quality execution.
What type of woman did you have in mind when designing your pieces?
The woman who is drawn to understated elegance and who is looking for everyday effortless pieces. The one who likes to change things up. We like to keep timelessness in mind when creating our pieces. It is important that they can be enjoyed for years to come and passed on as well.
What is your most treasured piece from your designs and why?
Hessa: I love our ‘discs’ collection because of its versatility and there is a combination for every one. Our discs can be stacked and taken from day to night. They can even be worn by our little ones!
Yazi: I love the ‘links’ collection because it can be worn in so many different ways depending on your mood. The cleo collection is also special to me because it’s easy to layer but also remains a special piece on its own.
What challenges do you face in your work?
Creativity doesn’t always necessarily coincide with the need to come up with new designs. Our clients are always on the lookout for new designs so keeping creativity going in the fast paced world we live in is a real challenge.
If you had the opportunity to collaborate with another brand, who would it be and why?
We adjusted this question. Tell us about your latest kids jewelry line, Petits Precieux. We are very excited to have launched our very own kids jewelry line called “Petits Precieux” as in “little precious ones”. We personally share our love for jewelry with our daughters and it inspired us to create a jewelry line that could be worn by both little ones and their mothers. mini versions of existing pieces we have created, simplified versions of more elaborate designs, custom pieces that little ones will have as a keepsake for the future.
Who would you most like see wearing your jewelry?
We love seeing any woman who appreciates the passion and attention to detail we put in our pieces.
What do you love about working with new clients on custom jewelry?
We love getting to know our clients throughout the creation process of a custom piece. We appreciate that connection and the trust placed in us.
How does your usual working day look like?
N/A..We are still a startup (not relevant to our situation)
What's next? What's your vision for the future of DEUX PRECIEUX?
We aspire to expand in the regional and eventually international market. We are constantly evolving and hope to be able to continue doing what we love and sharing it with those who appreciate it.
What’s it like to see someone on the street wearing one of your creations?
It is a beautiful gratifying feeling to see our creations worn.
How would you describe your own personal styles?
Our own personal styles: Hessa: My style depends on my mood but I generally gravitate around modern simple styles with understated detailing. I also appreciate modern feminine details in clothing. Yazi: I consider my personal style to be casual and comfortable. I’m mostly inclined towards clean modern cuts and a neutral color palette.
Who are your favorite fashion designers on the regional and international level?
Favorite designers: Rick Owens, Loewe, Bottega Veneta & Prada. We also love Isabel Marant and Iro.
What advice would you have for aspiring jewelry designers?
Advice..Don’t wait for the “right” time to start your journey. Focus on a single step at a time. There will never be a perfect time. If you put your heart into what you do, there is always room for success.
Don’t be intimidated by the unknown. It is never too late to expand your horizons, learn new skills, or even seek professional guidance.