Startup of the Week: Azha Workshop is embracing national culture

• A popular bracelet is the “Shahada” string that has the Shahada written on it in beautiful calligraphy, and which comes in all sizes and colors

JEDDAH: Azha Workshop is a true example of creativity. Founder Rawaa Bakhsh embarked on a journey to establish her company in 2014, in Canada, to make jewelry inspired by spirituality, culture, and the Arabic language.
“I am a third-generation jeweler. My grandfather and father both worked with precious metals and fine jewelry,” she said. 
The process of creating individual trinkets and adornments is long but worth it in the end, Bakhsh added. “The process of (making) our jewelry is coming up with a concept, then going through variations of designs, then being molded, and then being plated with gold.”
What makes each product unique is the focus on the concept, the story behind each piece, the description of each piece and how it is interpreted by each customer. 
Perhaps their most unique pieces are the religious ones and those with cultural significance. 
One of the simpler designs is a pendant called “Safar” which is an origami camel. Customers have sent many pictures of themselves back to Azha Workshop holding the pendant in different parts of the world. 
A popular bracelet is the “Shahada” string that has the Shahada written on it in beautiful calligraphy, and which comes in all sizes and colors. She also can turn verses from the Qur’an into wearable pieces of jewelry.
When asked about her inspiration, Bakhsh said: “I want to raise awareness, to maintain our spiritual values and beliefs, to make an impact, no matter how small.”
One day, she told Arab News, she would like her workshop to become the leading Muslim lifestyle accessories brand in the Middle East.