Today we’d like to introduce you to Katra Awad.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Katra. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up in a family of artists and entrepreneurs and was heavily influenced by their passion and their drive to create something independently owned, as far back as I can remember, I’ve been making various mediums of art. My love for jewelry making began when I was about 14, I sold to local shops and set up at flea markets and musical events around San Diego. The entire creation process always came naturally and I felt very passionate about making wearable pieces that I really liked and that someone could enjoy. The thing I loved the most was connecting with people from all over the world and hearing their life stories. It was an amazing gift to have art be the bridge to new conversations. The act of making something always started as a deep need to express me and explore the creative process. It’s been a very joyful and therapeutic outlet as a tool I couldn’t imagine not having in my life. I always knew I wanted to work on a more personal level with people through art, so I continued pursuing it and a few years later, I created a collection of wearable pieces using re-purposed and ethically sourced materials and was invited to display my work in a sustainable fashion show in Manhattan where I then moved to receive a scholarship to attend Design school. I ended up having to pass because the cost of tuition alone was not feasible, so instead, I began interning in Brooklyn with an accessories designer and former Teen Vogue Editor. I learned a lot about the nature of business in her studio and realized that it truly took a team to build any company. To pay the bills, I also worked as an assistant to an amazing commercial Casting Director. Working as a freelancer gave me the opportunity to continue to design and maintain my jewelry business during my free time.
A few years after I found myself desiring to make more of an impact as a creative and around that time, I was invited by a non-profit organization to teach a jewelry making workshop for a few weeks for their one year program in Chennai, India which continues on to this day. Their mission is to alleviate poverty for children with disabilities by investing in their mothers to create opportunities to develop income-generating skills (tailoring, jewelry, cooking) and builds the confidence needed to diminish the effects of poverty for women and their children. On this trip, I connected with incredible women and heard their stories one by one and it truly changed my life goals in exploring more than one area of focus. The experience opened my heart further to what more I can achieve on my journey of pursuing a multilayer of design along with social impact.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has definitely not been smooth but the journey has been a gift and with anything, you pour your heart into you open yourself up to challenges that you can choose to see as growth. Towards the end of my time in New York, my mom was diagnosed with cancer and around the same time we lost several very close relatives, it was really difficult and I felt like I needed to put my career goals on hold and focus on family and healing and so I moved back to California. It was not easy to leave the things I felt like I worked so hard for but I realize now how essential it was to my growth and personal development. If I could give any advice, I would say to take care of yourself and always stay true to who you are, be willing to listen and ask questions, accept mentor-ship from those who you look up to with similar objectives. Make a list of things that are most important to you in life first and foremost before whatever it is you choose to pursue, this will ultimately guide you to your own ethos, it’s a continual learning lesson. I’m really thankful to the people who have come into my life and have guided me during a time that I was willing and open to learning.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m a jewelry artist and designer primarily focused on illustration, film photography and wellness. I’m also currently in the process of creating To the Nile which will launch next June, it is a passion project exploring my heritage from Mexico to Egypt and a collection I designed and curated. During the launch, I will be documenting my travels through Cairo to visit my family. All illustrations and jewelry in the online shop tell a story and will be available to own, plus a percentage of all proceeds will go to help an organization in need. I hope to utilize my work in a way that can benefit others through well-being through my work which brings so much joy.
Looking back on your childhood, what experiences do you feel played an important role in shaping the person you grew up to be?
I feel like my experiences in the places I’ve lived and traveled to growing up have definitely influenced, challenged and inspired my work. Ultimately, my success is defined by my true happiness in what I’m doing and who I can share with along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://tothenile.bigcartel.com/
- Email: katraawaddesigns@gmail.com
- Instagram: Tothenile
- Other: Personal ig: @katraawad
Image Credit:
Image of Katra photographed by Dara Daniele Eckes
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