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Treasure from trash [National, The (United Arab Emirates)](National, The (United Arab Emirates) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The 21-year-old Emirati, along with five others – Amal Ahmed, Mahra, Mariam Al Hashemi, Haleema and Alia, all in their early 20s – started an idea to turn scrap into art and decorations. "What is left over from paper – be it wrapping or printed, like newspaper or magazines, boxes, stickers – we reuse and redesign them into beautiful pieces," says Al Taheri. "Depending on what order we get, we make it unique and sometimes with an Emirati art and heritage touch." Through the Instagram account Scrap_Shop, customers can see a range of designs for special events, such as pre-wedding parties, baby showers and graduations. From table sets and bottle covers to balloons and small trinkets like booklets and candles wrapped in their colourful collage-like designs, the entire reception room can be covered. The online store was one of the Top 100 ideas during the 2013 Young Entrepreneur Competition in Dubai. "Anything that you are about to throw, we will take it and use it and make it into something beautiful," says the Zayed University student, who is studying media. "Our message: we can create something from nothing, and it takes imagination." Since childhood, Al Taheri has enjoyed spending her holiday time learning handicrafts, such as sewing, ceramics and glass-painting. "I like putting things together. I also feel we lack real training in handicrafts, something we should aspire to do more of locally." Mainly working from home, the team of young women hope for a real shop one day. "More and more people want things designed and made by Emiratis," Al Taheri says. "So we work with other Emirati start-ups and companies so the customer gets the full Emirati experience." * Rym Ghazal (c) 2014 s Abu Dhabi Media Company, All rights reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info, an Albawaba.com company |