DE51GN

When Jay Strongwater arrived at his latest store launch at the Dubai Mall, the New York-based designer turned many heads. Standing out in his edgy Etro suit, complemented with a Kenzo tie, it’s impossible to ignore the effect his personality has on people. The designer is admired by numerous Hollywood A-listers and famous personalities including Oprah Winfrey, Liz Hurley and Tom and Katie Cruise who apparently wrapped all their holiday presents last season with a Jay Strongwater ornament. However, Strongwater remains unaffected by his fame, apologising for reaching the launch venue five minutes late. Now down-to-earth and famous is a combination that is rare as the rains in UAE.

Jay Strongwater

Our interview turns into an interesting conversation– that somehow included Barack Obama– with Jay asking us as many questions about Dubai as we want to ask him about his journey to becoming one of the most luxurious home accessories brands. He even compliments us on our purple dress that we later realised is the label’s signature colour. Ask him about his impressions of Dubai and he says, “The city feels very new and international. There are people here from all over the world, so you get to hear so many languages and experience different cultures.”

Nottingham collection

Papillion collection

Although in UAE on business, Strongwater has managed to squeeze in a bit of touristy must-dos such as a desert safari, various malls, a bit of Abu Dhabi– which he thinks is quite culturally-inclined and of course brunch at the legendary Burj Al Arab.

How does Dubai compare to New York–the designer’s home for many years now? “Even though New York is a big city, there’s a sense of community living there. And New Yorkers love to stumble upon little known shops and restaurants in obscure streets, which is always fascinating,” says Strongwater.

Vase from Fiji collection

Long before Strongwater ventured into the home décor territory, he unknowingly set out in the creative world by designing jewellery for his mother which he presented her, while still at design school in Rhode Island. Soon buyers began placing orders and Strongwater found himself designing jewellery for renowned fashion designer Oscar de la Renta. So how did the foray into home accessories come about? “In the mid-90s, with the explosion of Japanese designers on the scene, minimalism became the by-word in fashion and people acquired a more Zen-like sensibility when it came to the clothes and jewellery they wore. But at the same time, people started giving more attention to their homes and went through his whole nesting phenomenon. Designing home accessories was just another extension of the brand’s creative philosophy,” explains Strongwater, whose pieces are highly appreciated for their ornate details and craftsmanship.

Nottingham collection

Each piece is hand-made and can take up to eight months from conception to realisation. Although it’s not just the hand-made factor that makes the brand so sough-after; the little fantasy-inspired nuances give each piece an emotional appeal to connect with. “People are so stressed these days that everyone is looking for a little escapism. So we put a butterfly or a dragonfly to create interesting details that will evoke people’s imagination,” says Strongwater, who himself is wearing a dragonfly lapel pin.

Vase from Fiji collection

He further explains that an eclectic, mix-and-match style dominated contemporary interiors, rather than a severe minimalistic look. So what’s his home like? “I am inspired by fabrics, patterns and colours. My walls are a deep purple and I’ve furnishings from Etro and Missoni. I don’t always have the newest pieces from Jay Strongwater collection in my home but there’re a few that are indeed very special to me,” says Strongwater.

Jay Strongwater boutique at Dubai Mall

With a new store in Dubai, Strongwater is all set to conquer the rest of the Middle East as he reveals about his travel plans to Kuwait and Qatar later that evening. As we bring our conversation to an end, we can’t help but think that especially in times like these- with economic instability surrounding us, we really do need an escape from the harsh reality– even if it’s just a little Jay Strongwater dragonfly brooch or a jewelled photo frame.

Jay Strongwater boutique is located at Level 1, Dubai Mall, best accessed from Parking P2.