Words by Laifa

MUA by Glomorr.mv

Haajaraa Yusuf (Hajja) is the face behind the local Maldivian brand, ‘Elhabe’ – a jewellery line entwining modernism with a vibrant pop of traditional Maldivian art and culture. It could be stated that the brand is bringing on a remarkable whirl to the ongoing cycle of traditional jewellery craftsmanship.

The line of adornments shows a vast array of fine pieces of jewellery including earrings, necklaces, and statement bibs. The amusement involved is that all pieces are handmade paper beads which put together an admirable image of Maldivian art implicating patterns from the vivacious liyelaa and thundukunaa.

Being a graphic designer lets Hajja manage the entire process of making her jewellery. Everything from drawing the design, to rolling and making the beads, to fixating them on pieces for the market, is single-handedly done by her.

“Elhabe was a name that came from my father Yusuf, people knew him as ‘Elhabe Yusuf'” explained Hajja.

“He was a craftsman in the 1980s, I used to see him make things like earrings and jewellery boxes  from shells and other collectives, my sisters and I used to wear them with such excitement.”

Hajja was a graphic designer doing freelance work when she first got the initial idea of Elhabe.  “I used to make handmade invitation cards mostly using things like shells and dried leaves that I  used to collect”

It was around that time that she came across the fact that the majority of the souvenirs sold in the Maldives were exported goods. “I knew I had to do something about it, so I started to look around for ideas, for things that I could make” she explained.

“I experimented with different items like fridge magnets, at the time, and came across jewellery, I  found it very captivating and I grew eager to learn more about it.”

After doing a basic jewellery course Hajja began making jewellery from shells, “I came across the paper bead concept online and since I was always involved with paper crafting, I found the idea very interesting” explained Hajja enthusiastically.

Hajja set to work; her process began with drawing the designs traditionally, and then digitally for finer lines. She then experimented with sealants, finding out just how many coats she should use before she achieved her “perfected” product.

After the bead was ready, Hajja began marketing her products. Registered in 2016, Elhabe made its first appearance to the customers in September 2017 through local boutique Island Bazaar. “Island  Bazaar has always been of great help since the beginning of the journey” Noted Hajja.

Elhabe was also displayed at several resorts and exhibitions since the launch.

The Elhabe statement necklace shows a bold flashy pattern of thundukunaa displayed with a  brilliant shade of yellow combined with an inky black, bringing out the perfect detailing. “The  statement necklace was initially made specifically for the judging category in the FANNU EXPO  2019, though it became a popular demand by customers later on.” The statement necklace won third place in the Personal Jewellery and Accessory category in the Expo.

The earing piece “dhonkanbulo” portrays the figure of a woman embellished in Maldivian traditional attire, the beautiful Dhivehi libaas and feyli. “Being the youngest, I have always had a very strong bond with my mum. Once I got the idea of making the figure earing, I decided to relate it to her, since she used to wear libaas. The name “dhonkanbulo” is the pet name my father used to call her by”. Hajja explained.

“Use everything available in your surroundings well. Explore different branches of a single form of art, and don’t hesitate to try new things and let curiosity drag you along.”