Created in celebration of Emirati Women’s Day, the limited-edition collection transforms the traditional patterns of Al Safeefah into gold and precious stones.

Traditional craft does not have to remain fixed in the past. For Emirati jeweller Adi Al Fardan and Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council, preserving heritage also means finding new ways for it to be seen, worn and carried into the future.

Created in celebration of Emirati Women’s Day, the new limited-edition jewellery collection takes its inspiration from Al Safeefah, drawing on Irthi’s research and archive of the traditional Emirati weaving craft. Its geometric interlacing and repeated patterns have been reinterpreted through gold and precious stones, allowing an element of Emirati heritage to take on an entirely new form.

The collaboration also pays tribute to the generations of Emirati women who have preserved and passed down craft knowledge, while recognising those who continue to develop these traditions today. For Irthi, which was established in Sharjah to safeguard Emirati crafts and support their continuation, the project reflects the idea that heritage can evolve without losing the identity that gives it meaning.

The collection is made up of four sets, each featuring a bracelet, necklace, earrings and ring, crafted in 18-karat white, yellow and rose gold. Colour carries its own significance, with red rubies, emeralds, black diamonds and white diamonds reflecting the colours of the UAE flag and bringing another reference to national identity into the designs.

Speaking about the collaboration, Al Fardan described heritage as something whose value lies not only in preserving the past, but in allowing it to remain relevant. Working from Irthi’s archive, he translated the visual language of Al Safeefah through his own approach to jewellery design, creating pieces that feel contemporary while remaining closely connected to their cultural origins.

Available for one month to coincide with the Emirati Women’s Day celebrations, which run nationally from 28 August to 28 September 2026, the collection will also be presented at Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council’s pavilion during ADIHEX 2026, taking place at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi from 28 August to 6 September.

More than simply placing a traditional motif onto a modern object, the collaboration shows how traditional craft can be carried forward by finding new expression in contemporary design. The patterns of Al Safeefah may come from weaving, but here they find another life in jewellery, preserving a connection to the past while allowing the craft to continue evolving.