Growing up between Paris and Cairo, Egyptian multidisciplinary artist Farah Radwan has a diverse background. With her brand FYR Jewelry, she reappropriates Egyptian cultural and feminist heritage through her pieces.
"It was my need to reclaim and reinterpret Egypt’s modern culture through my designs," she tells PAPER. "I felt a strong need to challenge the gender norms surrounding jewelry in Egypt and redefine its narrative."
For each collection and each piece of jewelry, Radwan pulls from personal experiences while embracing the country's history of resilience and resistance. Her first collection, "So We Could Run,” for example, is a love letter to the Egyptian women who have fought and continue to fight for their rights.
However, Radwan's idea femininity is progressive. In FYR's collections, Radwan mixes delicate “feminine” stones (like citrine, agate and howlite) with "masculine" representations (thick solid silver, onyx and chains) as a way of pushing the boundaries of social and gender norms. More recently, she unveiled a series of images, called "I Thought I Would Feel Different," with her new partner, telling a personal story of her own newfound strength and resilience after the painful end to a decade-long relationship that she thought she wouldn't get over.
Below, PAPER talked to Farah Radwan about her diverse culture background, how she incorporates it into her jewelry and the craftsmanship behind it all.
What was the inspiration behind your latest collection?
Firstly, it was my need to reclaim and reinterpret Egypt’s modern culture through my designs. I felt a strong need to challenge the gender norms surrounding jewelry in Egypt and redefine its narrative. My collection "So We Could Run" draws inspiration from the Egyptian feminist movements throughout the years and their profound influence on how women in my family, including my mother, grandmothers and even my generation, were shaped.
It incorporates design elements that combine masculine and feminine codes embodying resilience and resistance, as well as the Arabic word "لا" (meaning "no"), symbolizing the empowerment of owning one's voice and the strength to set boundaries.
How does this collection reflect the ethos of your brand?
The ethos is rooted in the narrative of re-appropriation and the transmission of heritage. This collection embodies that philosophy by weaving this story into each piece, seamlessly blending the richness of tradition with a bold, untamed essence. It celebrates the harmony between the old and the new, creating designs that forge meaningful connections across gender, age and time.
How does each collection fit into the larger trajectory of your brand’s evolution?
Over the years, FYR’s different collections have all converged into a singular, cohesive ideology. This jewelry is for the poet, the lover, the siblings of the heart, the dreamers and the bearers of change. FYR serves as an amulet, seamlessly blending resilience and resistance with pieces acting as both armor and an extended olive branch, safeguarding and connecting us through the culture and language of jewelry. The larger trajectory of this brand’s evolution is to preserve the synergy of tradition and innovation, and to pave the way for a tomorrow where the old and the new work hand-in-hand.
When did you first realize that you wanted to pursue a career in fashion design?
As a teenager, I immersed myself in photography, but also began handcrafting thread accessories, which I started selling at just 17. I was deeply drawn to artistic direction and creating things manually. It felt natural to combine these passions, leading me to establish a brand where I could bring all these elements together and pursue my vision as a multidisciplinary artist.
Were there any pivotal moments or people in your life who inspired you to pursue fashion design?
Discovering my grandmother’s jewelry box as a teenager was definitely the first pivotal moment for me. It sparked my obsession with the stories and history embedded in personal adornments. It gave me that push to fuse personal connections to art and storytelling, and inspired me to express my heritage through pieces that are both meaningful and timeless. Later, it was artists and icons like Vivienne Westwood, Cher and Morticia Addams, with their effortless style and unapologetic sense of self that inspired my desire to embellish looks with jewelry. They embodied everything I envisioned in a dream muse.
How did your upbringing or early experiences shape your interest in fashion?
I grew up between Paris and Cairo, two vibrant yet vastly contrasting melting pots. In Paris, my Egyptian heritage gave me a distinct edge, rooted in grand history and a rich visual identity. In Cairo, I was seen as a rebellious teenager for speaking my mind and having a punk haircut. These contrasting influences — Parisian refinement with a dash of nonconformity and Cairo's vibrant imposing character — became the foundation of my brand, where I seamlessly fuse these opposing codes into a very personal creative vision.
Did you have any formal training in fashion design, or are you self-taught? How did that journey unfold?
I studied luxury product design in Paris before attending Azza Fahmy's jewelry school in Cairo, where I learned the fundamentals of jewelry craftsmanship. However, it was the artisans in Cairo’s souk who truly taught me, offering hands-on, real-world training. These craftsmen, some of whom had been working since they were 11 years old, provided me with invaluable experience.
As for the business side of running a brand, I’ve learned that through the journey itself. Every day, I continue to learn from the encounters and experiences I have; each one offers valuable lessons in this ever-evolving field.
How does your cultural background or identity influence your approach to fashion?
I draw deeply from my Egyptian identity in everything I create. In my family, jewelry is crafted from noble metals meant to last forever, becoming heirlooms passed down through generations. This tradition inspires my commitment to using only genuine materials like 925 sterling silver and solid 18K gold — no plating that fades and no unrecyclable metals. Craftsmanship is at the heart of my work, embracing a slow, intentional approach to creation and ensuring every piece remains truly unique.
In what ways have your personal experiences outside of fashion shaped your creative process and business decisions?
It was my upbringing that shaped my creative process and taught me social and cultural intelligence. It taught me to anticipate differences in taste, buying power, storytelling and how cultures can attract and influence one another. This awareness has allowed me to design pieces that resonate with diverse audiences while seamlessly merging opposing elements, modernity and tradition, into cohesive creations. Additionally, my journey as a self-taught entrepreneur has implanted resilience and adaptability, qualities that guide every aspect of my business, from production strategies to building meaningful client relationships.
Photos courtesy of FYR Jewelry
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