Egyptian student Fatma Tarek has won a global watch design competition with her innovative 'Vellora' watch design. The competition, organized by a major international company, aimed to create a special edition watch inspired by breast cancer awareness and October's Pink Month. Tarek, a fashion design student, expressed her joy at winning the competition, which had participants from several Arab countries.
The competition required participants to design a watch that conveyed a message about breast cancer awareness. Tarek's university was the only Egyptian institution to participate in the competition. The fashion design department at her university selected three designs to participate in the competition, and Tarek's design was chosen to represent her university. She mentioned that her field of study is primarily fashion design, not watch design, which made the competition a challenge.
Tarek's watch design, 'Vellora', is inspired by the idea of transformation and resilience. The name 'Vellora' is derived from two parts, one representing the experiences and emotions of breast cancer patients, and the other symbolizing courage. Tarek drew inspiration from a type of butterfly that represents the idea of rebirth. The watch's strap is designed to resemble a cocoon, while the watch face depicts a butterfly emerging from the cocoon.
Tarek emphasized that research is a crucial stage in the design process, allowing designers to convey their ideas effectively. She conducted extensive research on breast cancer awareness before starting her design. The watch features a pink color scheme to raise awareness about breast cancer. Tarek's design was chosen from among several submissions, and she was shortlisted alongside participants from Morocco and Iraq.
The design process took Tarek two weeks to complete, with the research phase taking the longest time. She worked diligently to ensure that her design met the competition's requirements. The company organizing the competition decided to produce Tarek's design and market it under her name. As per the competition rules, the profits from the watch's sales will be donated to Egypt.
Tarek mentioned that she did not expect to win the competition initially but became more confident after being shortlisted among the top five participants. She used artificial intelligence only to create a promotional image for her design, which was not involved in the core design process. Tarek's achievement has been celebrated by her university and peers.
The competition's outcome has provided Tarek with a unique opportunity to showcase her design skills globally. Her win highlights the importance of innovative design and creativity in Egypt's fashion industry. The 'Vellora' watch design serves as a symbol of hope and resilience for breast cancer patients.
Key points
- Fatma Tarek's 'Vellora' watch design won the global watch design competition inspired by breast cancer awareness.
- The competition was organized by a major international company and had participants from several Arab countries.
- Tarek's design will be produced and marketed by the company, with profits going to Egypt.
