Deana Shaaban is one of our favorite Egyptian fashion designers. She has been rocking the bohemian style for a while now. She uses lovely, colorful prints and cool, untraditional cuts that can make any woman look effortless and unique. The prints, colors, and structured designs found in Deana’s work reflect her fun and outgoing character. In the midst of discovering herself and starting her own business, Deana has gone through a rough emotional journey with her battle with depression. As part of spreading awareness about this disease, we sat with Deana to speak candidly about her individual struggle and recovery.
“Depression is a very paralyzing emotion. It creeps on you suddenly; it clouds your ability to think, see, and feel clearly. You feel very numb to the world around you, but at the same time it is a very strong overpowering emotion inside of you,” she says.
“Depression is a very paralyzing emotion. It creeps on you suddenly; it clouds your ability to think, see, and feel clearly”
This silent disease is affecting more and more people across the globe, and the severity of depression is largely unknown because no one is talking about it. “I wasn’t able to discuss it because I didn’t understand what it was. It was only after I had gone through it, and processed it in a healthy way, that I was able to really discuss and explain what these emotions were,” she says.
“Becoming a fashion designer was something I felt I needed to do with every ounce of my being. Clothing, for me, is one of the strongest forms of self expression. I feel like I have come into the world to help women accept their power through fashion design. My business was born out of the need to escape depression,” she says.
Photo by Salma Adel
“I would encourage people battling with depression to talk things out with people, it will help you see things clearly. Get help; don’t do this on your own”
Aside from being an extremely talented fashion designer, Deana is a badass fitness coach at Ignite Egypt. Getting involved with sports and fitness helped her overcome this tough journey. “There are things that we use as ways to help us get better, and one of these things was sports. In that hour that I was training I wasn’t thinking of how miserable I was. It helped me get out of my depressed bubble, and step into a healthier, happier and energetic environment,” she says.
Photo by Salma Adel
Depression drains your energy and drive, but there is no doubt that you can overcome this emotion. Deana has a couple of things that will help you cope with, and overcome, depression. “I would encourage people battling with depression to work out in groups, and get out of your miserable, depressed shell. Also, do one thing every single day that makes you happy; if it’s just spending five minutes in the sunshine, or having a really nice cup of coffee. Finally, talk things out with people, it will help you see things clearly. Get help; don’t do this on your own,” she says.
