Hello Dana, first of all we would like to thank you for taking the time to provide us with this interview.

Who’s Dana Wolley ?

A 22 year old fashion obsessed young woman living in Dubai. Owner and Founder of Wayed Vintage.

Tell us more about your brand , your design background and what made you become a Jewellery Designer. 

Currently I am not a jewelry designer, I collect and locate vintage pieces across the world. I have plans to start my own designs, but that will be for next year. 

To be honest, everything happened so fast, and it was so unplanned! Wayed Vintage was founded in mid 2006,  by then I had already collected a lot of rare vintage pieces, specially earrings and brooches. 

Wherever I travel, I would go hunting for vintage jewelry, and only when I started seeing that my close circle of friends and family were always asking about the different pieces that I personally wear I decided to set up

Wayed Vintage in 2006. Back then it was a niche demand, and I can safely say I was the first in the UAE or the GCC region to get into the vintage jewelry business. 

I remember I started by creating a Facebook group, and adding my friends

( and friends added friends and so on ) .I  was getting everyone excited of what's yet to come! 

Wayed Vintage was set up out of my love for all things from the golden Hollywood era, with Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe being my major style icons. We sell wonderful collections including earrings, brooches, bracelets, necklaces and a whole lot of glamour.  

Inspired by all things vintage and the old Hollywood glamour of the 40s, 50s and 60s, I came up with the name Wayed Vintage, because of how often I was told "shaklech wayed vintage" which means "you look so vintage", and "wayed" means so or a lot in the local Emirati dialect. 

The majority of pieces in Wayed Vintage’s collection are genuine vintage jewelry pieces sourced from various places around the world such as Europe and the United States. With one-of-a-kind timeless pieces that you won’t catch anyone else wearing, Wayed Vintage pieces allow you to own a piece of history and carry a story with you wherever you wear them. 

What is the vision for « Wayed Vintage » collections?

I am working towards expanding Wayed Vintage on an international level. We currently have plenty of customers from France, America and other countries. But I want the brand to be established to the extent that it’s very popular worldwide.  This year, it’s all about taking it to another level!

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn are all major inspirations.

I always loved watching what jewelry they were wearing in their movies and what they had on, I guess it’s an obsession with that old Hollywood era that inspired me to do what I'm doing today.

How do you intend women to feel when wearing ‘Wayed Vintage’ designs?

Sophisticated, Glamorous and unique! Through the pieces we sell at Wayed Vintage, I would to revive the golden Hollywood era.

How do you see Fashion in the Middle East ?

Do you think fashion is getting the attention needed in the Middle East?

Yes I do! Fashion has evolved a lot in the Middle East. Fashion here was almost limited, now it’s crossing borders and hitting the red carpets! Middle Eastern fashion designers are becoming very popular worldwide.

But I also do think that there is plenty of room for improvement. There is a huge potential for Dubai and the Middle East to be noticed as a fashion hub.

Can you tell MEF about your future projects ?

My online store is opening soon, that's a big step for WV. I will also be creating/designing my own vintage inspired jewelry line. And at that same time, I am planning to start designing vintage inspired clothing.

I'll make it my mission in life to get back all that 50's glamour !

What advice would you give for aspiring designers looking to get into the Fashion industry ?

You need to be very passionate about your designs in order for business to work. If you are just entering the fashion industry because of the financial outcome then be sure that it's going to fail. Also, Designing is a delicate process that requires a lot education not just love of fashion.

To make it in the fashion industry, you need to live and breath fashion!

Any quote that you could leave us with?

Inspired by my experience, I would tell aspiring entrepreneurs: I would say if you have an idea you believe in then go for it and never give up

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