SELECTS: The Artist Off Duty With Egypt's 'Experimental Joy'
Joy AKA Experimental Joy builds her world piece by piece- sometimes with code, sometimes with fabric, often with both. Her work spans 3D-printed jewellery, wearable art, and immersive tech installations, but fashion is where it all becomes personal. It's where ideas are worn, not just shown.
You could try to label her, but she's already 3D-printing past the binary. A creative technologist with a flair for sculptural silhouettes and a sharp sense of self, she treats fashion the way an artist treats a blank canvas.
After ten years in Toronto, surrounded by glitch art, subcultures, and second-skin dressing, she returned to Egypt with a heightened sense of contrast. 'Returning to Egypt pushed me to rediscover how I present myself in the world- through fashion and jewelry.' She tells SceneStyled 'Navigating a familiar cultural landscape meant relearning boldness, crafting a new visual vocabulary through statement pieces that still feel like home.'
For this Selects edit, we tapped Experimental Joy to curate six looks that echo her 'artist off duty' state: personal, intuitive, and a little bit defiant. Think asymmetrical cuts, playful proportions, jewellery that borders on sculpture- and the confidence to pull it all off. For her: 'a real artist is never off duty, every look is an opportunity to tell a story- to shape perception, challenge norms, and scream curiosity.'
Look One | Cyborgwarrior.exe
'A digital femme fatale built in armor and futurism, where body meets code'
Structured like software and styled like sculpture, this look channels a techno-mythical heroine with intent. The Mugler bodysuit lays the foundation in sheer geometry, while Joy's own 3D-printed hand bra and spiked choker transform the chest and neck into coded architecture. The leg armour by Victor Clavelly sharpens the silhouette, and Balenciaga's wraparound sunglasses complete the upgrade.
3D printed hand bra Custom by Experimental Joy
3D printed hand choker (spiked) Custom by Experimental Joy
Black Rodeo Bodysuit - Mugler
Armored Legs designed Custom by @victorclavelly on instagram
Spirit Bag - La Lune Official
Rogue Earring - Kiska Lab
360 MASK SUNGLASSES - Balenciaga
Look Two | afro.arab.obj
'This is cultural source code. A rendered archive of memory and material- a hybrid identity- textured, ancestral, and beautifully compiled.'
A soft collision of timelines and geographies. The structured lines of Daneh's dress meet Joy's 3D-printed nose piece in a blend of futuristic craft and ancestral codes. Hand henna recalls childhood rituals, while Rick Owens boots disrupt with raw power. Vintage scarves, spiral earrings, and a well-placed ring thread together a visual system where heritage is recompiled- on her own terms.
Custom 3D Printed Nose Piece by Experimental Joy
Linear Dress - Daneh Design
SS25 Hollywood Grilled Kiss 45 Boots - Rick Owens
Absolute Ring - Vitaly
Hand henna
3D Printed Pink Spiral Earrings - Devrooney NYC
Vintage Roberta D Camerino Scarf Babushka
Look 3 | {smart&sexy}:[000101]
'This is intellect styled with edge- wearable hardware with a pulse.'
The 3D-printed star bra and resin heart- both made by Joy- pulse beneath oversized parachute pants. Layered with signal-boosting details like Klassemoon's sigil glasses, an internet-core rosary, and a silver sculpted bag.
Girls' Gauntlet - Extro Code
Baggy Parachute Pants - Huelleyrose
3D Printed Star Bra Custom by Experimental Joy
Resin Heart Custom by Experimental Joy
Custom Silver Sigil Glasses by @klassemoon on Instagram
Custom 3D Printed Bag in Silver by @viniorbini on Instagram
Custom Internet Jesus Core Necklace by @damndandamn on Instagram
Look Four | ~/offduty.protocol
'An artist is never truly off. Low effort, high signal. Comfort with intent.'
Denim may say downtime, but the rest tells a different story. Her 3D-printed corset reshapes casual wear into process, while Zaza shades and a multicolour minaudière add punctuation. Moon boots step lightly through the static, and Jude Benhalim's Medusa earrings hint at a myth rewritten. Off-duty doesn't mean unplugged- it just means running quietly in the background.
3D Printed Corset Custom by Experimental Joy
Zaza Shades Custom by Experimental Joy
Trance Chain - Vitaly
Holiday24 Destroyed Jeans - Stressmama
Moonboots
Medusa Earrings - Jude Benhalim
Palmette Oval Minaudiere - Okhtein
Look Five | encryption.required;
'Detail-driven and deliberately guarded.'
Every piece is holding something back. From the custom headpiece to the deviant pink corset and butterfly necklace, this look whispers in layers. The blush is sharp, the jewellery says 'come closer' while daring you not to. It's aesthetic encryption: if you know, you know- and even then, you might not.
Corset Pink Drops - AmplitudaDesign
Custom Headpiece by @nachojewels on Instagram
HOBB - 18K Gold & Diamond "Love" Bracelet - Bil Arabi
Good Girl Blush Carolina Herrera Eau De Parfum With Vanilla & Peony - Carolina Herrera
Cargo Bootcuts - Bodied by Uchis
Look Six | dateniight[(debug)];
'Distorted romance. Clean lines, blurred emotion.'
There's softness here, but it's refracted. The Venetia maxi dress by I.AM.GIA flows like silk code, but Joy's 3D-printed face hugger warps the silhouette. Margiela Tabi boots anchor the look with cold elegance, while Rick Owens adds ritual with a hooded micro layer. This is how you do romance in beta.
Face Hugger Custom by Experimental joy
SS25 Hollywood Runway Hooded Micro - Rick Owens
Venetia Maxi Dress - I.AM.GIA
Oblivion Chain - Vitaly
Angel Eau De Parfum Spray - Mugler
Silver Tabi Boots - Maison Margiela
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CairoScene
18 hours ago
- CairoScene
Egypt's Al Camileon & Kangaroo Make Fashion Personal This Summer
Al Camileon asks you to make their newest collection completely your own. Aug 03, 2025 To celebrate the launch of their new denim collection, Egyptian label Al Camileon is collaborating with Egyptian design studio Kangaroo to host (no, not a zoo) a customisation workshop on the former's very collection. 'At Al Camileon, we put emphasis on the exclusivity of our garments,' founder Zeyad El Ghorab tells Scene Styled, 'This workshop with Kangaroo enables the creation of Al Camileon clothing that is 100% exclusive, because it's hand-stitched with each person's personal stamp.' At the workshop, people are invited to stamp, mark, and alter their new Al Camileon denim pieces, making them truly their own. 'The whole point of Kangaroo as a creative studio and experimental lab is to give people who aren't usually creative the chance to get their hands dirty,' tells us Naila Marei, the founder of Kangaroo, 'We believe that every single person benefits from tapping into their creativity. It's like an art class for people who aren't kids anymore.' In that sense, the collaboration between Al Camileon and Kangaroo gives customers a chance to truly meditate on their Al Camileon pieces, rather than just clicking 'Add to cart' and really forgetting about them. This workshop invites slow consumption, thoughtfulness and the chance to really truly spend enough time with a garment to fall in love with it. 'Kangaroo has their own original imprint on things,' continues El Ghorab, they have authentic taste. I just felt like both design houses - which are by nature very different - coming together could create something entirely novel.'
CairoScene
5 days ago
- CairoScene
Egypt's Akaoui Doesn't Follow Trends. It Crafts Timeless Jewellery.
Egypt's Akaoui Doesn't Follow Trends. It Crafts Timeless Jewellery. For four generations, Akaoui has practiced not just design, but devotion. What began as a modest jewellery shop in the Levantine port city of Akka—where the family once traded gemstones along salt-lined trade routes—has evolved into a fine jewellery house known for restraint, precision, and permanence. Today, the brand's legacy continues to unfold, one piece at a time. 'We don't follow trends,' a member of the Akaoui family tells SceneStyled. 'We create timeless beauty.' Each ring, bracelet, and pendant begins in Italy, in workshops where hand engraving and filigree are still practiced daily. 'Many of our pieces come from small ateliers where passion and tradition guide the process,' they explain. 'It's not just about luxury—it's about meaning.' Their latest collection draws from botany in both structure and setting. Pieces are photographed against ferns, petals, bark. A cuff mirrors the curve of an orchid. A pendant mimics the line of a cactus spine. Gemstones are set to catch the light like dew. These references to the natural world underline the brand's quiet philosophy: jewellery should grow into you, not just sit on you. 'Every piece we curate is more than just jewellery,' they add. 'It's a story.' And the story runs deep—through four generations of artisans, workshops, and hands that continue to shape each piece with intention. The effect is quietly exacting. Minuscule indentations, layered stones, and textures that refuse uniformity. Not bling, but craft. Not spectacle, but signal. 'When someone wears an Akaoui piece,' they say, 'we want them to feel like they're carrying something that truly speaks to them.' The brand continues to balance tradition and evolution—Italian technique and Egyptian soul. 'Egyptian jewellery is changing in an exciting way, blending heritage with new ideas,' they note. 'Akaoui is part of that shift, bringing high-quality design that honours where we come from and where we're going.' This is jewellery built for memory, not momentum. Each piece is an heirloom in the making—etched with history, shaped by hand, and worn with quiet conviction.
CairoScene
27-07-2025
- CairoScene
What a Model Actually Wears to Set With Saudi Model Zahra Hussain
What a Model Actually Wears to Set With Saudi Model Zahra Hussain There's a certain image that comes to mind when you hear the word model - all glossy skin, dewy cheekbones, and aspirational chaos in the back of a cab. But Zahra Hussain, with her quick wit and even quicker shoe change, is here to gently unpick that illusion. The UK-based Saudi model never planned to become the face that launched campaigns. In fact, her path to fashion began not with dreams of runways but with a pragmatic twist of fate. As a university student studying Finance in the British countryside, her world revolved around textbooks and netball courts - until her height started turning heads. 'Everyone told me, you should model,' she says. 'So I walked into an agency on a whim, and they signed me straight away.' Just like that, the athlete became an accidental icon, trading sports gear for couture. If fashion demands conformity, Zahra sidesteps it with ease. 'My style is never one aesthetic,' she tells SceneStyled. One moment she's in ethereal pastels; the next, she's leaning into midnight-hued rebellion. Modelling - with its casting-call uniform of black-on-black - only deepened her creative fearlessness. 'Before, I'd thought, 'You can't wear that with that'. Now? Who actually cares?' Raised Muslim in rural England, deeply rooted in her Saudi heritage, Zahra carries her identity with both gentleness and clarity. 'There's a generational shift happening. My mum might not love some of the outfits I wear now, but Arab fashion isn't monolithic.' For her, style is a space for nuance. 'Respect your roots, but make room for yourself. There's beauty in balance.' Though she's graced international campaigns and editorials, Zahra's love for modelling is all about collaboration. 'Photographers, artists, other models - I love the energy of it. But I also wonder: why do we still centre European labels in our region's fashion story? There's magic in what we have - Saudi boutiques, in Egyptian craftsmanship, that we overlook.' And while her portfolio is full of high-shine fashion moments, she's also just really, really good at surviving a 6am call time without losing an earring - mostly by not wearing any. 'People don't realise - jewellery's a no-go. You'll always be asked to take it off, and you're bound to lose something eventually. It's just not worth it.' So instead of a glossy dreamboard of looks that rarely leave the stylist's rack, For this SceneStyled SELECTS Zahra shares the real model on-set edit. 'It's all about ease,' as she says. 'Chill, but it works.' Best on set outfit 'The best on-set outfit is all about ease - jeans you can pull on and off quickly, a stretchy tank so makeup doesn't get ruined, and slides for easy shoe changes. It's chill, low-maintenance, and you don't care if it gets a bit dirty.' A practical yet polished on-set uniform: mid-blue flared jeans with patch pockets for a touch of structure, a ribbed cotton tank that's soft, breathable, and makeup-friendly, and comfy LV slides that slip on and off in seconds. It's the kind of look that works hard behind the scenes - casual, functional and effortlessly cool. Sakura — Patch Pocket Flared Jeans In Mid Blue Skims — Cotton Rib Long Tank in Marble Louis Vuitton — Sunset Comfort Sandals in Blue/Blanc Casting outfit "For castings, it's always about keeping it simple- clean lines, no distractions. You want to look long, lean, and effortless. That usually means all black, something tailored, and absolutely no jewellery. You'll just be told to take it off- and if you forget, you'll lose it. It's happened.' A pair of high-waisted, flared black trousers, paired with a fitted cotton-blend top that hugs without clinging. The silhouette is sharp, especially when grounded by sleek heeled boots- something structured to subtly enhance her posture and add height without screaming for attention. And if it's cold? A checked Acne Studios scarf adds polish. Priya — Twill Patch-Pocket Flared Trousers In Black Harvey Nichols — Massachusetts Cotton Top in Black Off-White — Silver Allen Heeled Ankle Boots Acne Studios — Check Logo Scarf, Narrow in Black & Gray What's in my bag? 'My bag's always full of things that keep me ready for anything, Day-to-day beauty staples, a few snacks - just the things that make sure you're cute, fresh and prepared.' In her tote - Fendi's oversized FF-embroidered canvas shopper - you'll find the kind of staples that keep her camera-ready without trying too hard. A Mario Badescu rosewater spray for mid-day refresh, Clinique's cult Black Honey lip tint, a protein bar and an apple (always), and her Canon G7x. 'Anything can happen in a day, and I like to be ready—especially for behind-the-scenes moments,' she says. And then there's the one non-negotiable: Chanel's Noir Allure mascara. 'I always have my own. I'm not sharing mascara with anyone. Ever.' Fendi — Roll Large Blue canvas shopper with FF embroidery Louis Vuitton — Sarah Wallet in Blue Wash Mario Badescu — Rose Spray Toner For Refreshing L'Oreal — Paris Fine Flowers Cleansing Wipes Keihl's — Mini Ultra Facial Refillable Moisturising Cream with Squalane Clinique — Black Honey Lip Digital Camera (G7x) For Behind The Scenes If Possible Apple & a Protein Bar Chanel Noir Allure Weekend Dinner Outfit 'I do tend to end up wearing black a lot, but I just like things that feel classy and versatile - you can go to dinner, but if you want to go to a party afterwards, you're ready. I like little accessories that just make you look… expensive and chic.' A structured black Emiliana top by X REVOLVE paired with cropped Cindy trousers—clean lines, zero fuss. She adds height and attitude with YSL's patent Opyum heels, and slings the crocodile-embossed Le 5 à 7 bag over her shoulder. Gold accents - a twisted bangle and Prya's Mia hoops - finish the look with just enough polish. Revolve — Emiliana Top in Black Revolve — Lovers And Friends Cindy Cropped Capri Pant in Black YSL — Le 5 À 7 In Crocodile-Embossed Shiny Leather YSL — Opyum Sandals In Patent Leather Browns Family Jewellers — Soleil Collection Twisted Bangle in 9K Solid Yellow Gold Prya — Mia Earrings In Her Wardrobe That She Cannot Live Without 'They've been my dream since I was a little girl, and I finally got them' Tiffany & Co. — Return to Tiffany Heart Tag Necklace in Silver with a Diamond, Medium Tiffany & Co. — Return to Tiffany Heart Tag Stud Earrings in Silver, Mini
