Waris, (no last name needed and instantly recognizable by his long beard, black turban and aviator sunglasses), is one of those mystifying fairy tales of fashion. One afternoon while shopping at Maxfield in L.A. a stranger asked him where he had gotten his striking diamond rings – one on each hand, each spanning three fingers. When Waris explained he had made them himself, the stranger admitted to being a buyer for the store and immediately placed an order. And this began the House of Waris.
His second career, as an actor began in much the same way. One evening a few years back, Waris was relaxing at home when he received a call from friend and movie director Wes Anderson asking him if he set aside about five months to act in Anderson’s new film The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
This was Waris’ first introduction into acting. One thing led to another and while filming at Cinecitta studios in Rome, he found himself discovering, and then working with, a Roman atelier on his next jewelry collection. His designs include diamond-encrusted arachnids, skulls and daggers. His jewelry is not known for its “bling factor,” but rather because of its original designs and unexpected luxury. Each piece comes in a handmade wooden box with the House of Waris logo burned onto the hinged lid. We’re also hearing that Waris may soon be appearing on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach, but of course that’s merely a rumor at this point.
Some call it tribal chic while others label it ghetto fab, but there is no denying that the elegant pieces that Waris designs are one in a million. The free spirited actor/jewelry designer lives between New York, Rome and Rjasthan and sells to boutiques across the globe.
