While everyone else swam or relaxed, she would observe broken shells, dead corals, and oddly shaped rocks by the coast. It was the same everywhere she went; she would stop on a walk and muse at a fallen flower or leaf. It is safe to say that 28-year-old jewelry designer Somaia Omar has always felt a powerful connection with the smallest details of nature, ones that others would consider mundane. Aptly titled “Things I See,” the first line in her newly-launched jewelry label Soju uses an organic casting technique to mold and transform the unique treasures she collects into elegant silver jewelry. As part of Egyptian Streets’ Spotlight Sundays series, which features young and aspiring Egyptian artists, start-ups, filmmakers, and more, we spoke to Omar about her journey as a female jewelry designer embarking upon a traditionally male-dominated industry and what jewelry making means to her. What inspired you to start Soju? In 2019, I decided to attend a workshop on the basics of jewelry making. Afterwards, I created a small studio for myself with a bench, pliers, and other simple tools. I’ve always been curious about how jewelry is…
