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Founded in 2013, Okhtein, which means “two sisters” in Arabic, is a brand that began with selling a very warm and very intimate idea: two sisters conquering with love and an intertwined vision. Okhtein is owned by Aya and Mounaz Abdel Raouf. Two Egyptian sisters who rooted the brand in their childhood bond stories were able to let their story reach the world. And that is why we’re featuring them today in our blog to let more people know about two local sisters who worked their way up to the global market.
Aya and Mounaz grew up in Cairo surrounded by art and family. Their grandmother travelled and collected fabrics and her journey left an imprint on their imagination. Aya studied communication and digital arts, while Mounaz combined her love of painting and design. Together, they created Okhtein, a brand that is as unique and loved as many global ones. Ready to dive into their story? Let’s go.
Crafting Luxury With a Vision
Seeing a gap in the luxury market, the sisters delivered high-end accessories that were truly able to tell a story of heritage to the world. A story that not only presented a nice logo but also resonated with the meaning it has behind it. Aya and Mounaz spent months walking through Cairo’s streets and seeking artisans who had the Egyptian crafts wired in them. Brass workers, leather makers, and even embroidery masters.
All were included in their search for the perfect team. Aya was known to sketch, while Mounaz would envision sculptural shapes and together they collaborated with local artisans. Their signature hardware is their rich symbolism. Their logo is two opposing arrowheads joined by a bar. It is one that symbolizes how two sisters may go in different directions yet always remain connected.
A Heart for Community & Craft
A brand should always have a social purpose. And Okhtein? They mastered that. The sisters partner with various NGOs in order to employ skilled yet financially vulnerable artisans. They targeted women to empower them with a career that backs them up financially in a male-dominated market.
This philanthropic approach has been woven into the DNA of the business since it first was a vision. In their interviews, both sisters stress over the importance of beauty but with an impact. They simply tell you how each bag of theirs carries a story of empowerment.
Growing Pains & Breakthroughs
Persistence is one word that took the Okhtein brand to a whole new level of achievements. At first, there was the skepticism of whether a “Made in Egypt” brand would be able to compete with established European luxury houses. But then came the paying off of it all.
Celebrities started recognizing the brand and some were even spotted with it, like Emma Watson, who praised their ethical model. Then came celebrities like Beyoncé, Gigi Hadid, Queen Rania, Emma Roberts and more who were also seen carrying pieces from Okhtein.
As their production scaled, they started making strategic brand shifts. Like how they moved some manufacturing to Italy in order to ensure higher finishing quality. All while still keeping some production in Egypt as part of honoring their roots.
The Evolution of the Brand: Bags and Jewelry
The brand started at first with handbags but then expanded to the industry of fine jewelry. Okhtein’s arrow motif began expanding into earrings, rings, necklaces, and even bracelets. Their pieces were described as sculptural, elegant, and meaningful. They have also played with various collaborations. One memorable line was with actress Yasmin Sabri, for whom they created the “Yasmin Capsule” line. The line was inspired by jasmine blossoms and Arab garden motifs. The line is a beautiful blend of nature along with architecture and, of course, the signature touch of sisterhood that is the core of the brand itself.
Global Impact: From Cairo to the World Stage
Okhtein is a brand that is now known on a worldwide scale in the luxury industry. Their pieces can be found stocked internationally in Harrods and Selfridges, among many other places. Back home in
Cairo, they opened their flagship store in Cairo’s Zamalek in around 2017. Additionally, as part of celebrating Egyptian culture and further emphasizing their deep-rooted heritage, the brand also opened a store branch inside the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM).
They worked on placing their modern luxury designs to align with conversations that are centuries old in terms of craftsmanship. And in 2024, they expanded to the GCC by opening another store in Dubai’s City Walk. Their vision is one that goes beyond retail. It is one that attracted funds from Bidayat. This is a fund that supports growth into the global luxury market, which acquired a stake in this Egyptian fashion startup brand.
Okhtein on Shark Tank Egypt: Guiding the Next Generation of Egyptian Entrepreneurs
In season 4 of Shark Tank Egypt, Aya and Mounaz joined the program as guest sharks. This is a milestone that is highlighted as their rise from local designers to global luxury leaders. Entrepreneurs showed interest in how they wanted their guidance.
And after securing an offer from them, the delight would be obvious. The sisters brought a mix of creative insight along with sharp business judgment. They brought to the table clear and strategic feedback that showcased the power of Egyptian-born success stories. Moreover, it inspired a new wave of founders aiming to follow in their footsteps.
Okhtein Today
Now that you know their story, you know that they, as a brand, act as cultural ambassadors. The brand is proof of how a vision can successfully elevate Egyptian craftsmanship in the context of modern luxury. Their journey shows that with purpose and a clear vision, a small startup made literally from two sisters can go global and earn celebrity love in an unexpected yet calculated way. And as guest sharks? They are providing two opinions, not strictly aligned but with guidance that will lead future generations to global stages.
