DUBAI: Danya Jabre has reached a stage in her life where she can look back and tell herself that she has done it all. But she is now settled in enjoying what she loves.
A mother, grandmother, and entrepreneur, Jabre fled her native Lebanon after the 1982 Israeli invasion, making her way to England first, and from living in the U.S., Canada, and France.
Along with her background in graphic design, her experiences and travels all feed in one way or another into her hilarious and humorous brand, The Twist.
“All my life, I used to design things. They start and they fall apart, ”she tells Arab News. But The Twist, which she started in 2014, seems to be here to stay.
Jabre ‘s interest in jewelery began at a young age. Her mother, who returned from a trip to Hong Kong with a book on precious stones and their properties, said: “I was nine! Why would a nine-year-old be interested in reading about a stone? ”
But her mother brought back some rough stones, which instantly instilled a desire in Jabre to keep and study them, especially in natural light.
Another special memory she shares is the time she spent in the London punk scene in the 1980s, buying zipper earrings from King’s Road – a center of youth culture that fascinated her.
Twist’s first designs, set in gold and silver, were inspired by emojis that had become popular through Blackberry Messenger conversations – a predecessor. It was this collection that started it all, which is why Jabre is still his favorite. “It gave me good luck,” she says. “He is also happy. When I wear it, it starts a conversation and I get a lot of comments from people. ”
Another attractive collection soon followed. Happiness Therapy has funny necklaces on which to hang ‘happy’ colored pills. “It was based on my kids telling me to take a pill,” she says. On her website she writes about this collection: “The last lesson I learned in life is that humor eases difficult situations and makes everything better.” Even the packaging stands out; it looks like a medicine box, and is described as: “Quick, lasting action.”
Recently, Jabre has designed larger narrative pieces that still convey pop culture feel, such as her Chinese fortune cookie necklace, which hides a secret paper message and her ‘Popcorn Love’ ring, with Mikimoto’s bright pearls cursed as pieces of popcorn.
But beyond that level of joy and creativity, there is one particular collection that has a soft spot. When Lebanon protested against the government in October 2019, it decided to create “Lebanon in my Heart” – which is made up of a map of Lebanon, a fist full of the image of the revolution, and a cedar tree. with the symbol ‘nazar’ (believing it will ward off the evil eye).
“I was on the streets at 3 am, 4 am, from October to February, believing that we could make this change (s),” she recalls. “It’s a very emotional subject. I’m fascinated by Lebanon and haven’t got over it yet. ”
Like many other small businesses, the Twist has been through a tough time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And being based in a desperate Lebanon has just made that worse. But Jabre remains optimistic, and plans to increase her company’s digital presence.
Needless to say, Jabre gets a kick out of creating her pieces, but it’s the connection she’s built with people that gives her the most pleasure.
“I like to be creative,” she says. “With my clients, the relationship is not about selling. I follow them, asking them how they like their pieces. Some of them end up telling me their life stories. I have a personal relationship with my clients and it is a great confidence. “