The French Institute in Egypt, in collaboration with the Egyptian association Tawasol, the French organization Itinérance Méditerranée, and Kegham Djeghalian—Professor of Fashion and Artistic Director of the Fashion Department at GIU—has announced Artisanes, a groundbreaking program that began in November 2024.
This program, which focuses on everyday femininity, intimacy, and women’s empowerment, combines Egypt’s rich textile legacy with French innovation.
Artisanes, funded by the Institut Français in Paris’ 2024 Creative and Cultural Industries program, aims to promote cultural interaction by combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design.
The project will be completed in three dynamic parts, beginning with two transformative workshops in 2024 and finishing with a curated exhibition in 2025. This tour showcases the lives of women while addressing the complex interaction between tradition and modernity.
CRAFTSWOMEN EMPOWERMENT WORKSHOP
Artisanes features a hands-on session guided by French designer Caroline Perdrix and expert Lorraine Ledeme. The workshop, which partnered with ten Tawasol craftswomen, focused on Khayameya—a centuries-old Egyptian needlework style primarily executed by men and steeped in Cairo’s vivid tent-making traditions.
The workshop reinterpreted Khayameya as a narrative instrument, with women drawing inspiration from Egyptian poetry and song to produce works that combine personal and public places.
These symbolic works are intended to embellish balconies and tell intimate stories about women’s daily lives while connecting them to the bustling world outside.
A MEDITERRANEAN DIALOGUE: THE EX-VOTO WORKSHOP
The Ex Voto Workshop, a highlight of Itinérance Méditerranée’s Mediterranean Craft Workshop program, brought together German International University in Cairo (GIU) students and Tawasol artists.
Inspired by the Mediterranean tradition of ex-voto, or things that represent hopes and goals, this collaborative project urged participants to imbue clothing with their dreams and worries.
Under the guidance of curator Raphaël Bories (MUCEM), designers Caroline Perdrix and Alexia Tronel, and Professor Kegham Djeghalian, students and craftspeople collaborated to produce stunning sculptures.
The procedure entailed mixing three embroidery techniques—Khayameya, Mansag, and Tally—to create one-of-a-kind shirt designs that represented a synthesis of cultural legacy and modern craftsmanship.
THE FUTURE OF ARTISANES
Artisanes is more than just preserving tradition; it is also about reimagining it for a more sustainable and linked future. The program aims to foster long-term connections between Egyptian artisans and worldwide designers:
- Creating new career opportunities through collaboration and networking.
- Enhancing sustainability in fashion by combining traditional crafts with ecological and social innovation.
- Creating internationally recognized creations that honor Mediterranean craft traditions.
Curated by Kegham Djeghalian, the Artisanes exhibition in 2025 will reveal these joint works, providing a comprehensive investigation of women’s tales, creative empowerment, and the limitless potential of cross-cultural design.
