Egypt’s Okhtein Poised for Global Growth with Bidayat Partnership

Egyptian brand Okhtein, which fuses a centuries-old craft with high quality materials and designs to produce a contemporary line of luxury fashion, has partnered with Bidayat, an Alsara Investment Group company.

The new partnership will see Okhtein receive funding, knowledge-sharing, operational support, and access to a global network of industry experts. In turn, Bidayat will work with all existing stakeholders to fuel the international growth of a staple luxury Egyptian brand.

A family-run business, Okhtein - as its name suggests - was founded by sisters Mounaz and Aya Abdel Raouf in 2014. Attracting a high-status celebrity following including Beyoncé, Emma Watson, Gigi Hadid, and Cardi B, Okhtein’s signature contrasting designs reflect the design duo’s personalities.

With the duo's borther, Mohamed Abdel Raouf, as CEO and partner to help steer the brand’s commercial ambitions, Okhtein is an Egyptian family business success story.

In 2019, Aya and Mounaz were listed in Forbes Middle East’s ‘30 Under 30’ list, and the duo built upon the momentum by launching the brand’s flagship store in Cairo’s Sheikh Zayed district, presenting customers with a fully-immersive experience complementing its e-commerce pioneering.

Its collaboration with Bidayat sees two homegrown giants come together, with Bidayat working to elevate the ideas of creatives and entrepreneurs in the MENA region and Europe into globally recognised brands.

Bidayat CEO Tugba Unkan said “Okhtein’s approach to blending fashion and art, while celebrating the rich heritage of Egyptian artisans, is remarkable and very much in line with Bidayat’s mission to nurture, enable and connect creative talent,” before laying out the ambition of establishing the brand as “a global leader in premium fashion.”

Mohamed was confident the partnership with Bidayat will “help us unlock our full creative and commercial potential.” Mounaz and Aya, meanwhile, recognised the “common values” shared with Bidayat, and welcomed their expertise in “[understanding] the unique opportunities and challenges entrepreneurs from the region face.