AL GHADEER EMIRATI CRAFTS

Al Ghadeer Emirati Crafts – a prominent non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering women artisans through traditional crafts and skills development.

Showcasing for the first time outside the United Arab Emirates, it launched the Tirhal (‘journey’) Collection of five sculptural benches woven by 16 Bedouin women using traditional Al Sadu weaving techniques from sustainable materials.

The Tirhal Collection was conceptualised by Lithuanian-born textile designer Loreta Bilinskaite-Monie. It is a tribute to traditional Emirati design brought to life with contemporary aesthetics, encapsulating the journey from ancient tribal roots to modern innovative society.


Image: Tirhal Collection London Design Fair 2023, Al Ghadeer Emirati Crafts © Mark Cocksedge. Image above: Tirhal Collection by Al Ghadeer Emirati Crafts.

At the heart of the Tirhal Collection lies the skill and talent of 16 Bedouin women who are among more than 300 who have taken part in the Al Ghadeer Emirati Crafts programme. These skilled artisans intricately handmade each piece using sustainable materials, including locally sourced sheep's wool and natural dyes. The collection celebrates the deep-rooted cultural practice of Al Sadu weaving, an age-old tradition that saw women transform wool from their sheep into exquisite decorative furnishings such as tent dividers, cushions, and pillows.

Loreta Bilinskaite-Monie's vision for the collection captures the significance of cloth folding in the lives of tribes across the Arabian Peninsula, who would fold up their tents, load them onto camel trains and travel from place to place. Each piece showcases a modern, pixelated interpretation of traditional weaving patterns, symbolising the nomadic lifestyle of Bedouin communities. “This design is a homage to the traditional life of Bedouin women – its authenticity and sustainability,” she says. “My aim was to showcase these weavings as their identity, their personal narrative and to connect this rich social heritage with the sustainable, practical and modern vision of the UAE.”


Image: Al Sadu Weaving Al Ghadeer Emirati Crafts.

The colour palette represents the natural tones dominant in traditional tribal life in the Arabian Peninsula; the deep blue is produced from the powder of the indigo plant, pale green is created from the ghaf tree, burnt orange comes from natural henna powder mixed with hibiscus and the two-tone black and white reflects the traditional Al Mudayla’iya Emirati weaving  pattern.

The artistic journey of the Tirhal Collection is a testament to the cross-cultural collaboration between international  designers and local artisans. A group of dedicated women artisans, many of whom are mothers and grandmothers,  worked with designers to elevate traditional textile weaving into five stunning benches that cater to international tastes.  


Image: Tirhal Collection, Al Ghadeer Emirati Crafts © Mark Cocksedge. 

The Tirhal Collection’s launch at the London Design Fair marked a pivotal moment for Al Ghadeer Emirati Crafts, as it  introduced its sustainable and culturally rich practices to a global audience at such an important international event.  Through this endeavour, Al Ghadeer aimed to create economic opportunities and skills education for women artisans, enabling them to transform their communities and contribute to a more sustainable world. 

Find out more and follow:
www.alghadeeruaecrafts.ae