In a colourful corner of Egypt’s northern coast, where the Mediterranean breeze carries the scent of the summer, over 125 artisans have gathered to showcase centuries-old skills infused with modern creativity.
These artisans are coming together within the Diarna exhibition for handmade and heritage crafts, which has opened its doors at Marina 5 in the North Coast.
The exhibition is held this time under the slogan “Egypt Speaks Crafts”. It will run until September 10. The exhibition was opened by Minister of Social Solidarity Maya Morsy and Marsa Matrough Governor Maj. Gen. Khaled Shuaib.
It is held in partnership with a host of local banks. The minister described economic empowerment as a “core objective” of her ministry. “This exhibition brings together artisans from across Egypt who roll out all types of crafts, from crochet and macramé to silver, alabaster, copperware, ceramics, and more,” the minister said during the opening of the exhibition.
“These products reflect the Egyptian identity while also meeting summer demand and modern tastes,” she added. Around 500 artisans will take part in the exhibition throughout its two-month duration, according to Minister Morsy.
She added that these artisans include disabled ones. The minister noted that a host of NGOs, like the Egyptian Red Crescent, also take part in the event, along with various women associations. “All these participants are committed to preserving traditional crafts and sustaining them as sources of income,” she said.
Mohamed Salem, the founder of Qadam El Saad, a brand that has been producing high-end handmade ceramics since 1996, and one of the exhibitors, said his brand started in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh where he sold his products at bazaars and shops until the 2011 revolution. “Then I moved to Cairo and began participating in exhibitions like this one,” Salem told the Egyptian Mail.
A Law College graduate, Salem grew up surrounded by ceramic ware, with which he fell in love, and decided to turn his passion into a career. “Now we have our own workshop with a team of seven,” Salem said. “We design and produce everything ourselves — plates, mugs, pots, soap dishes.
Our products are lead-free and made to the highest standards in colour, finish, and quality” he added. Nonetheless, Salem said he still faced a challenge: the lack of the necessary human resources. “It’s hard to find skilled artisans these days,” Salem said with sorrow.
“Many of the old artisans have shifted to easier, more profitable jobs like driving tuk-tuks (three-wheeled taxis). But we’re committed to keeping the craft alive,” he added with resolve.
Marwa Ibrahim, co-founder of Dar Gallery, a brand that reimagines crochet into modern utility and art, tells another powerful story.
She started her project, together with her sister Dalia, in 2009 with a social vision in mind. “We began training women through an NGO that supports female breadwinners,” Ibrahim told this newspaper.
“Now we have about 40 women working with us,” she added. She noted that she and her sister wanted to do something fresh in crochet, so they used recycled ropes from carpet factories.
“We started with bags and then moved on to rugs, toys, and home items,” Ibrahim said. “Today, we have over 30 designs — our toys, especially, are made to last generations and are 100% safe for children” she added. The products the two sisters make are sold at their shop on al-Fustat tourist market in southern Cairo at what she describes as “reasonable” prices. “I have to make sure that sales will continue because many women depend on this work,” Ibrahim said. “We also sell wholesale because our project is not just a commercial one. It is rather about providing real opportunities for women to earn a living and grow,” she added.
