The harsh conditions in Gaza have not stopped Mohammad Abu Aoun and Jihad Al-Hamami from reproducing Turkish rings that had been made by the Ottomans for centuries in a skilled and professional manner.
After a trip to Turkey a few years ago, Jihad brought back many of these rings in the hope of selling them. The rings were a success and after he had none left, he and his friend Mohammad worked together to reproduce them. After mastering the art, they were able to sell the rings at half the price they were being sold in Turkey, making them popular amongst Gazans.
With no experience in this field, Mohammad learnt the skills he needed by watching about 3,200 hours of YouTube videos on how to manufacture silver rings.
The Israeli siege on Gaza created many problems for the men’s production line, not least because the occupation would not allow the plastics needed to enter the Strip. This led the friends to find alternative raw materials.
They were also affected by the regular power cuts, which stopped their oven working and stalled their work.
Images by MEMO photographer, Mohammad Asad.
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