Date: December 3, 2020
Member of Zubair Small Enterprises Centre (Zubair SEC) Nadia Al Shamsi, founder and designer of Mazayen Jewellery has won theprestigious ‘Oman Woman of the Year Award 2020’ in the category of fashion. The Apex Media-instituted ‘Oman Woman of the Year Award’ provides annual recognition to outstanding contributions and achievements made by women in diverse fields including fashion, technology, medicine, law, arts, education, and sports among others.
The Oman Woman of the Year award is a reverberating endorsement for the exceptional work and outstanding contribution of Nadia Al Shamsi in the world of Omani fashion. Mazayen handmade jewellery designed and made by Nadia Al Shamsi is inspired by the heritage and culture of Oman.
It may be recalled that Nadia Al Shamsi was among winners of Zubair SEC’s flagship Direct Support Programme (DSP) in the year 2014.
A spokesperson for Zubair SEC said, “We are especially proud of Nadia Al Shamsi for receiving this year’s Oman Woman of the Year Award. Each piece of Mazayen’s jewellery is a work of art, exquisite and special. Moreover, it has found immense popularity across the world. Nadia is an inspirational entrepreneur and designer who has proved that fortitude, perseverance and a keenness to innovate can create long-term value.”
On winning the award Nadia Al Shamsi said, “It is a great honour to be placed among distinguished past and present winners most of whom have made important contributions in different industries. I want to express my sincere appreciation for recognizing me with this special award. I am truly humbled and honoured to receive it. I would especially like to thank those who supported my efforts. Zubair SEC has backed my journey since my early days in the business and I am grateful to them.”
After graduating in management in 2009 Nadia Al Shamsi started making jewellery with beads and gemstones, using Oman’s heritage and culture to influence her designs, and decided to take her hobby to the next level. She began selling her jewellery from her home studio after attending different courses on jewellery design and silversmithing. Nadia earned a Diploma in Creative Jewellery from London.
She was amongst 30 innovators who were selected by the British Council from Middle East and North Africa to be part of a cultural innovators’ program in 2013. Also, in 2013, she participated at the UAE Exhibition Wonders of the East.
Nadia became the first Omani and only Arab artist to exhibit in the 2015 edition of the International London Jewellery Exhibition. Nadia has taken her creations to exhibitions such as Wonders of East in UAE, and Handmade in Oman Exhibition. Her company was selected to feature in the Italian movie ‘Il Carnevale della vita’ wherein the lead actress wore Mazayen jewellery in two scenes.
Mazayen jewellery participated at the Catwalk SS20 at International Jewellery London show September 2019 and is currently displayed in luxurious boutiques across Oman, Kuwait, London, Paris, and Melbourne. As one of Oman’s significant social responsibility initiatives, Zubair SEC has always been in the forefront in assisting ambitious small-business owners and entrepreneurs to grow assertively. Through Zubair SEC, its members have been having better access to knowledge, expertise and understanding of different market dynamics.