Egyptian luxury businesses strive to carve their niche in the limelight while drawing inspiration from the past.

"Egyptian luxury brands are tapping into the rich heritage of traditional craftsmanship, encompassing everything from jewellery design to carpet weaving, in order to showcase the country's ancient cultural treasures to a global audience.

Azza Fahmy, a renowned Egyptian master jeweller, has gained fame for her exquisite pieces inspired by Islamic art.

"We do not have a luxury industry. We have stores that import brands from abroad, and we have some people trying to enter the global arena, but there is a long way to go, and you have to learn it and follow rules that we do not have. For example, if you look at the Arab world, you will find that those who succeeded in making a name are counted on the fingers of one hand", said Azza Fahmy, Egyptian jewellery brand founder.

Nonetheless, the sector is facing challenges, including a scarcity of skilled workers and fierce competition from international markets.

"With regard to the industry in terms of materials, there is a severe shortage, and this caused us problems, as prices rose very quickly in a short period. Of course, it happened in the whole world but in Egypt particularly, we face many difficulties", lamented Mohamed al-Kahhal, co-owner of a handmade carpet company.

Egyptian brands aspire to draw upon the country's 6,000 years of history, encompassing the ancient Pharaonic era, the Mamluk and Ottoman periods, as well as modern times.

"We embarked on this journey due to the worldwide fame of Egyptian cotton. However, when we started 20 years ago, there were no homegrown brands in Egypt. Egyptian cotton could be found in renowned brands around the world, but there was no presence of it within Egypt itself—it was solely being exported," concluded Goya Gallagher, founder of Cairo-based Malaika Linens.

Egypt is currently grappling with a challenging economic crisis that has devalued the local currency and imposed restrictions on the import of raw materials."