The CSR event marked a step in reigniting the city’s jewellery landscape, offering a premier platform for local designers and entrepreneurs
Creatives Amplified, Qatar’s homegrown premium public relations agency, have concluded the successful inauguration of ‘Taking Back the City’, a CSR initiative dedicated to championing Qatar’s thriving brands and creative sector. The debut edition, which focused on the jewellery sector, and held at the distinguished Ned’s Club, saw the prestigious members’ club transformed into a curated gallery, providing a high-profile platform for Qatar-based designers to engage with a select audience of members, media, and industry leaders.
The two-day, invite-only event held from 10th to 11th May, showcased bespoke collections from a selection of high-end jewellery brands. A cornerstone of the ‘Taking Back the City’ initiative, the program fused a commissioned exhibition with strategic networking and expert insights, championing the resilience and mastery defining the region’s creative entrepreneurs.
Harriet Abiodun, Founder and PR Director of Creatives Amplified, stated: “We launched this ‘Taking Back the City’ initiative to reignite the city of Doha and support the local designers whose creativity and leadership deserve significant recognition. This showcase serves as a vital reminder of our legacy brands while introducing the audience to the emerging names shaping our future. By fusing hospitality with strategic PR, we’ve created a dynamic ecosystem where Qatar brands can truly thrive. The overwhelming response to this ‘Jewellery Edition’ confirms that Doha is ready for more, and we are committed to amplifying other sectors in the seasons to come.”
Laurentia Meredith, Director of Membership at The Ned’s Club, added:”As pillars of the hospitality sector, we believe in the importance of championing our local creative community. It has been a privilege to host such a remarkable group of designers and to provide a refined space where our members could interact directly with the talent shaping Qatar’s design landscape. This event underscores our commitment to supporting business leadership and artistic excellence in Doha.”
Complementing the premier exhibition, the first day held an expert-led panel discussion charting the cultural heritage and creative evolution of jewellery trade in Qatar. Media expert Narges Raiss moderated the discussion, which featured insights from designer and educator Mariam AlMajed, luxury business strategist Aljazi Makki, and cultural expert and collector Rashid Al Murikhi.
On the second day, Kimberly Labs, Qatar’s first and only diamond and gemstone authentication laboratory, delivered an insightful presentation on stone verification and smart jewellery acquisition. Enhancing the experience, Kimberly Labs featured a live, on-site setup where guests were invited to bring their personal pieces for immediate evaluation, providing real-time professional authentication throughout the event. The talk was moderated by digital media professional Nancy Ghanem.
The showcase was met with high acclaim from the invited guests, who noted the seamless integration of expert industry insights with the masterful collections from all the various brands on display. This positive reception underscores the success of the initiative in providing both high-value networking and a platform for local creative talent.
Calvin Fernandes, Director of Strategy at Spirit Events, the production partners of ‘Taking Back the City’, commented: “We joined this project to honor our commitment to the Qatari business sector that inspires us. The infrastructure for this event was specifically provided to ensure that the exhibition’s aesthetic reflected the caliber of the pieces on display and that purposeful environments for connection were established.”
By aligning professional curation with economic purpose, ‘Taking Back the City’, has established a new benchmark for private sector collaboration in Doha. As Creatives Amplified looks toward future editions, the initiative remains a vital catalyst for domestic business growth.
This inaugural chapter did more than showcase local products; it demonstrated the strength of the Qatari entrepreneurial spirit and set the stage for a sustained effort to integrate Qatar-based brands into the heart of the national economy.
