Egyptian Luxury Brand Sabry Marouf Introduces New ‘Krstl’ Capsule

In a fusion of past and present, Sabry Marouf, the Egyptian luxury handbag brand, unveils its latest collection - the limited edition Krstl capsule. With a focus on precision and technology, this new line reinterprets their iconic designs through the use of shimmering crystals and modern techniques.

The Muse: The KRSTL capsule collection honours the brand’s past, reimagining its signature styles like the Tut, Scarab and Djed in a bold new light, and adding adornments to their bodies. “The idea of adding crystals to these bags hit me while I was playing the Final Fantasy XV video game,” Ahmed Sabry, the co-founder and creative director, shared with SceneStyled. 

“The worlds were so magical, so enchanting - I thought, ‘Why not bring some of that magic into our bags?’” With a whimsical twist, the brand offers a playful reimagining of magical realism through their bags, featuring glimmering finishes and shimmering crystals.

The Collection Dissected: The touch of the hand meets the mind of the machine in the craftsmanship of this collection. The placement of the crystals was meticulously mapped using parametric software, ensuring that each gem consecutively follows the other according to the natural geometry of the bag’s surface. “This creates the illusion of second skin.”

However, the precision doesn't stop there- each crystal is then individually placed and fixed by hand, adding a personal touch to every piece. Beneath these shimmering jewels lies napa leather, crafted over a lightweight 3D form using the brand’s signature hand-molding process. “It’s a very time-intensive process, but the sculptural result makes it all worthwhile,” says the co-founder.

The collection also draws inspiration from ancient Egyptian symbols, like the Djed pillar, which stands for stability, the Tutankhamun headpiece, representing legacy, and the scarab beetle, signifying transformation. “We used these symbols to convey complex concepts in a simple, recognisable form,” he explains. “We’ve chosen to deconstruct specific symbols that embody our values.”

The Collection in Three Words: “Luminous. Iconic. Irreplaceable.” 

Where to Wear It: These bags, with their ethereal glow, are made for an evening out in a big city, like on the streets of New York or Milan, or at an upscale soirée, where they would make the perfect conversation starter. 

How to Style it:

Scene Styled Suggests: 

Kate by Kristina Fantasia High Heels

Rotate Embroidered halterneck gown

Glamour Jewellery Sparkling Framed Emerald Diamond Bracelet

Magda Butrym Crystal-embellished drop earrings

The Collection’s Stand-Out Pieces: “The silver iridescent bags stand out to me for how they capture the entire spectrum of colours,” Sabry shares. Indeed, striking as they are, the Scarab and Tut in silver are showstoppers. However, the Tut in iridescent pink crystals also commands attention with its soft, hazy shimmer, offering a dreamy twist on the collection’s signature crystals. 

In The Words of Ahmed Sabry… “At the core, I feel a sense of duty to my cultural heritage, alongside a pursuit to understand myself in relation to our ancestors.”

The Designs Through Ahmed Sabry’s Lens: “I like to approach the creative process from an angle of deconstruction,” he says. Drawing inspiration from both the past and the future, he explores new ways to incorporate tradition with technological innovation. “I create my own virtual worlds inspired by ancient Egypt using Unreal Engine,” he begins. “These symbols often make their way into the digital world, where I abstract and develop them into new forms.” 

For the physical world, Sabry scouts unique materials, seeks new processes to work these materials, and collaborates with artisans to materialise these ideas into what he calls “wearable artefacts.”

The Verdict: 

After a long hiatus, one might worry that the brand would have lost its identity. But Sabry Marouf not only preserves the essence that made it iconic, they refine and elevate it, infusing new technology to their signature pieces. While keeping the original size, structure and shape of the bags, they’ve made it into something entirely new by adding a dazzling, celestial edge.