Iran, Bisheh Design, Embroidery

Iranian Ethical Artisan-made Home decor and Accessories Brand, founded by Wildlife Conservation and Rural Development Practitioners.

Touran Embroidery: the designs are contemporary and the technique is traditional, this kind of embroidery was extinct in the region in Semnan Province,Iran. it came back to artisans while empowering the local communities of the village regarding eco-tourism whith the aim of conservation of the endangered Asiatic Cheetahs (SGP/GEF/UNDP).

Golabatoun (Zardouzi) Embroidery: The elaborated silver or golden flowers that are embroidered by women of Hormozgan are among the most common arts of southern Iran. Mothers put their creativity in these beautiful crafts, while bestowing to their daughters and daughters in law.

In Qeshm Island, we went through the mangroves with the locals, they shared their food with us, we lived with dolphins, birds and sea turtles, and we became friends with the women who embroidered whenever they could find a bit of time between their house works. Women, who have become empowered and enlightened by our colleagues for years, to value their nature, art and tradition. Now they are aware of the beautiful fact, that their hand craft is a symbol of their coexistence with nature.
Bisheh finds these glamorous Golabatouns as signs of passion and life. We asked the Artisans of Qeshm to create and design for you, to bring you the fresh feelings of their Island.

Product has been made by women of Qeshm Island, Hormozgan, Iran.

Golabatoun (Zardouzi) Embroidery, metal embroidery on velvet fabric. This type of embroidery is a traditional way of handcraft from people in South Iran. The patterns we designed are unique and new to the artisans. Bisheh came up with the idea of using this art on home décor items. Many capacity development projects by Iranian NGOs and with the support and initiation of Small Grant Programe (SGP/GEF/UNDP) were able to build trust, empower women in their art and their attitude towards their nature and tradition. Bisheh is now working with a local women group who were empowered for years by the rural development and conservation projects and became a community based group themselves.

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