During her state visit to Egypt with King Felipe VI, the Queen’s wardrobe drew almost as much attention as her official engagements.
The jacket and earrings she wore to the Sultan Qaitbay Centre for Arts and Culture in Cairo sparked conversation across television, social media, and among regional designers.
Her ivory jacket was designed by Dina Shaker, a prominent Egyptian fashion designer known for her “deconstruction” approach that reimagines classical forms into contemporary, practical styles. Shaker, a graduate of the Faculty of Fine Arts, said the piece reflected her ethos of combining elegance with mobility.
Meanwhile, the Queen’s earrings were crafted by women artisans at Mishka, a Cairo-based workshop under the Sultan Foundation, which supports cultural preservation and community development in the Qaitbay area.
Since its founding in 2019, Mishka has trained 250 women, with more than 100 now running their own projects. The collective specializes in handmade jewellery and crafts inspired by Mamluki architecture. Miskha has participated in more than 70 events, with plans to showcase their creations at Turathna Fair, Qaitbay exhibitions, Cairo Fashion Week, and El Gouna Film Festival.
Production manager Mustafa Abdelaal told Ahram Online that eight pairs of earrings had been submitted for the Queen’s consideration. Letizia personally chose the pair she wore, later telling the artisans that her relatives in Spain admired them.
“It was a proud moment for the women who crafted them,” Abdelaal said. “Her Majesty’s words left a lasting impression on the craftswomen and the whole team.”
The Queen’s gesture, though simple, placed an international spotlight on Egyptian craftsmanship and underscored the role of women-led creative enterprises. For many, her fashion choices during the visit carried as much symbolic weight as the diplomatic meetings themselves—an elegant endorsement of Egypt’s creative spirit.
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