26 April 2011
KUWAIT: The appeal for jewelry and luxury products has not faded even during times of global economic turbulence. People are naturally attracted to all that glitters and sparkles, said UK-based award winning jewelry designer Nina Koutibashvili.
According to the designer, the appeal of precious metals and stones is universal. "No wonder people of every part of the world adore and are very much attracted to jewelry, especially women," she told the Kuwait Times at the opening of her exhibition at the Knooz Jewelry and Watch Exhibition on Sunday evening. "Even in Kuwait women are warmly talking about gold, diamonds and other precious stones. Quite impressive, fascinating and really heartwarming since I myself am engaged in designing precious metal an
d diamonds," she said. In Koutibashvili's words the recession in Europe never affected the jewelry business, which is continuously thriving. "It is still a huge business and a most promising one in England," she stated.
Koutibashvili, who is originally from Georgia, admited that she has been attracted to precious metal since her early childhood. "It was my dream to create something big that people could appreciate and admire," she said. "I started painting jewelry when I was still a kid. The hobby I believed I could eventually turn into a reality was interrupted when I got married at an early age.
Koutibashvili's obsession with creating designs never faded and her dream turned into a reality when her children grew up. "When I got the chance, I went back to school to study," she said. "There my talent obviously developed and in fact I graduated with prestigious distinction. When I graduated six years ago I was nominated designer of the year at my school. I got second place, which was followed with several awards. I was also nominated twice as Designer of the Year at the UK Jewelry Awards.
Since starting a business in London six years ago, Koutibashvili has won several other awards, including the Gold Award in Goldsmith Crafts and Design Awards, a Platinum Award, Coutts New Jeweler Award and was voted Designer of the Week.
Koutibashvili's striking designs are currently on display at the Knooz exhibition at Arraya Ballroom until Thursday. Her display of craftsmanship includes her winning piece the Sleek. The Sleek is Koutibashvili's first ever collection and has earned the world's attention. Her motivation for the Sleek was inspired by fashion, body and sensuality and her desire to give women a unique style.
My objective when creating the Sleek was to give my customers a feeling of softness, something you could never expect from a precious metal. If you touch the Sleek, it will not give you a metallic texture but a fine fabric texture. The Sleek can be used on any part of your body and can be wrapped around as you like. From this feature I developed all my creations, which are on display here," she asserted. "To find something unique that has never been done before is quite difficult nowadays. To be different
from everybody else is quite a wonderful feeling to some. For me it's an achievement and I have done it myself.
The very style, quality and technique used by Koutibashvili is quite impressive. "If somebody wears my jewelry, wherever you are in the world, you will always recognize my signature," she asserted. "You are rewarded with very soft and fine jewelry that is unique to Nina." When asked about her motivation to enter the Kuwaiti market she said, "It was the fact that I wanted to try other markets. I even want to reach out as far as the US, they are on my plan. I expect that the people in Kuwait will love my wor
k. Kuwait is a wonderful market and I hope that with my work I will be able to give them great satisfaction and happiness. This creation and design will be available in Kuwait and everyone can touch it, if not possess it, as they wish.
The exhibition, which opened yesterday, was inaugurated by Sheikha Fariha Al-Sabah and the Chairman of Kuwait's Jewelry Association Hussein Al-Arbash. Sheikha Fariha expressed her gratitude for being chosen to sponsor the Knooz Jewelry Exhibition for the second year in a row. She said that the event was important because it, "meets a dire for specialized exhibitions that benefit exhibitors and provide to the demand of customers at the same time.
Sheikha Fariha also recognized the contribution of the Knooz exhibition for giving jewelry makers, both inside and outside Kuwait, the opportunity to display their products and capabilities. She added that hosting international artists allows the local jewelry industry to benefit from the experience and styles of other parts of the world. Afaf Kayed, head of the Knooz Exhibition, also thanked participants and supporters for their cooperation.
For more about Koutibashvili's craft and designs please visit www.ninakoutibashvili.com or visit the exhibition, which will be open until Thursday.
KUWAIT: The appeal for jewelry and luxury products has not faded even during times of global economic turbulence. People are naturally attracted to all that glitters and sparkles, said UK-based award winning jewelry designer Nina Koutibashvili.
According to the designer, the appeal of precious metals and stones is universal. "No wonder people of every part of the world adore and are very much attracted to jewelry, especially women," she told the Kuwait Times at the opening of her exhibition at the Knooz Jewelry and Watch Exhibition on Sunday evening. "Even in Kuwait women are warmly talking about gold, diamonds and other precious stones. Quite impressive, fascinating and really heartwarming since I myself am engaged in designing precious metal an
d diamonds," she said. In Koutibashvili's words the recession in Europe never affected the jewelry business, which is continuously thriving. "It is still a huge business and a most promising one in England," she stated.
Koutibashvili, who is originally from Georgia, admited that she has been attracted to precious metal since her early childhood. "It was my dream to create something big that people could appreciate and admire," she said. "I started painting jewelry when I was still a kid. The hobby I believed I could eventually turn into a reality was interrupted when I got married at an early age.
Koutibashvili's obsession with creating designs never faded and her dream turned into a reality when her children grew up. "When I got the chance, I went back to school to study," she said. "There my talent obviously developed and in fact I graduated with prestigious distinction. When I graduated six years ago I was nominated designer of the year at my school. I got second place, which was followed with several awards. I was also nominated twice as Designer of the Year at the UK Jewelry Awards.
Since starting a business in London six years ago, Koutibashvili has won several other awards, including the Gold Award in Goldsmith Crafts and Design Awards, a Platinum Award, Coutts New Jeweler Award and was voted Designer of the Week.
Koutibashvili's striking designs are currently on display at the Knooz exhibition at Arraya Ballroom until Thursday. Her display of craftsmanship includes her winning piece the Sleek. The Sleek is Koutibashvili's first ever collection and has earned the world's attention. Her motivation for the Sleek was inspired by fashion, body and sensuality and her desire to give women a unique style.
My objective when creating the Sleek was to give my customers a feeling of softness, something you could never expect from a precious metal. If you touch the Sleek, it will not give you a metallic texture but a fine fabric texture. The Sleek can be used on any part of your body and can be wrapped around as you like. From this feature I developed all my creations, which are on display here," she asserted. "To find something unique that has never been done before is quite difficult nowadays. To be different
from everybody else is quite a wonderful feeling to some. For me it's an achievement and I have done it myself.
The very style, quality and technique used by Koutibashvili is quite impressive. "If somebody wears my jewelry, wherever you are in the world, you will always recognize my signature," she asserted. "You are rewarded with very soft and fine jewelry that is unique to Nina." When asked about her motivation to enter the Kuwaiti market she said, "It was the fact that I wanted to try other markets. I even want to reach out as far as the US, they are on my plan. I expect that the people in Kuwait will love my wor
k. Kuwait is a wonderful market and I hope that with my work I will be able to give them great satisfaction and happiness. This creation and design will be available in Kuwait and everyone can touch it, if not possess it, as they wish.
The exhibition, which opened yesterday, was inaugurated by Sheikha Fariha Al-Sabah and the Chairman of Kuwait's Jewelry Association Hussein Al-Arbash. Sheikha Fariha expressed her gratitude for being chosen to sponsor the Knooz Jewelry Exhibition for the second year in a row. She said that the event was important because it, "meets a dire for specialized exhibitions that benefit exhibitors and provide to the demand of customers at the same time.
Sheikha Fariha also recognized the contribution of the Knooz exhibition for giving jewelry makers, both inside and outside Kuwait, the opportunity to display their products and capabilities. She added that hosting international artists allows the local jewelry industry to benefit from the experience and styles of other parts of the world. Afaf Kayed, head of the Knooz Exhibition, also thanked participants and supporters for their cooperation.
For more about Koutibashvili's craft and designs please visit www.ninakoutibashvili.com or visit the exhibition, which will be open until Thursday.
© Kuwait Times 2011
