Brief

House of Crafts Brief 2023

House of Crafts Brief 2023

About The House of Crafts is a business-to-business (B2B) sourcing company that aims to promote and preserve the rich cultural heritage of Palestinian crafts and showcase the exceptional artistry of handmade products from Palestine. We strive to be a buyer’s primary source of contact from start to finish by overseeing sourcing and design, packaging, shipping and quality control. We specialize in artisanal products including home decor, jewelry, and gift items. With the support of UNDP and our strategic partnerships, we connect artisan producers with wholesale and retail buyers, shining a light on untold stories through beautiful objects.

About The House of Crafts is a business-to-business (B2B) sourcing company that aims to promote and preserve the rich cultural heritage of Palestinian crafts and showcase the exceptional artistry of handmade products from Palestine. We strive to be a buyer’s primary source of contact from start to finish by overseeing sourcing and design, packaging, shipping and quality control. We specialize in artisanal products including home decor, jewelry, and gift items. With the support of UNDP and our strategic partnerships, we connect artisan producers with wholesale and retail buyers, shining a light on untold stories through beautiful objects.

Vision

Mission

Our vision is to be a leading provider of innovative and competitively priced products across multiple categories, delivered with exceptional quality control and timely shipping. We strive to unite buyers and producers, offering diverse products to serve a broad clientele.

We are committed to supporting the distinctive craft traditions and know-how unique to Palestine. By introducing global buyers to the diversity and provenance of Palestinian-made products, we hope to cultivate stronger market linkages and provide valuable resources to support artisans and grow their enterprises.

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Vision

Mission

Our vision is to be a leading provider of innovative and competitively priced products across multiple categories, delivered with exceptional quality control and timely shipping. We strive to unite buyers and producers, offering diverse products to serve a broad clientele.

We are committed to supporting the distinctive craft traditions and know-how unique to Palestine. By introducing global buyers to the diversity and provenance of Palestinian-made products, we hope to cultivate stronger market linkages and provide valuable resources to support artisans and grow their enterprises.

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Services

Services

Product Categories 10

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Product Categories 10

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Olive Wood

Palestine is home to some of the world’s oldest olive trees, dating back nearly 4,000 years. For millennia, the olive tree has been the pillar of Palestinian agrarian culture and has become a symbol of peace, beauty, and prosperity. Throughout that time, it was also renowned as a beautiful material from which to make durable, resistant, and sustainable products. Farmers simply prune the branches and sell as is, as opposed to cutting down the entire tree. The pruning process also allows for maximal olive production. The average lifespan of an olive tree is 500 years, but some are over 1,500 years old. No wonder they are so special to this country - they don’t require much maintenance and always keep giving. 13

Olive Wood

Palestine is home to some of the world’s oldest olive trees, dating back nearly 4,000 years. For millennia, the olive tree has been the pillar of Palestinian agrarian culture and has become a symbol of peace, beauty, and prosperity. Throughout that time, it was also renowned as a beautiful material from which to make durable, resistant, and sustainable products. Farmers simply prune the branches and sell as is, as opposed to cutting down the entire tree. The pruning process also allows for maximal olive production. The average lifespan of an olive tree is 500 years, but some are over 1,500 years old. No wonder they are so special to this country - they don’t require much maintenance and always keep giving. 13

Pottery

Pottery is one of the oldest and most esteemed handicrafts in Palestine, with a history of over 9000 years. The art of shaping clay into functional and beautiful objects has been passed down through generations of skilled artisans, each adding their unique touch to the craft. House of Crafts works with a +300 year old family run pottery workshop. Al Fakhoury Family is named after “Fokhar,” pottery in Arabic. We have been told only ten artists who have mastered the wheel contine this craft today. Science confirmed that clay pots transform tap water into active tap water by increasing permeability through aquaporin. In other words, pottery is the only natural tool to restore water vitality and minerals. 14

Pottery

Pottery is one of the oldest and most esteemed handicrafts in Palestine, with a history of over 9000 years. The art of shaping clay into functional and beautiful objects has been passed down through generations of skilled artisans, each adding their unique touch to the craft. House of Crafts works with a +300 year old family run pottery workshop. Al Fakhoury Family is named after “Fokhar,” pottery in Arabic. We have been told only ten artists who have mastered the wheel contine this craft today. Science confirmed that clay pots transform tap water into active tap water by increasing permeability through aquaporin. In other words, pottery is the only natural tool to restore water vitality and minerals. 14

and terebinth trees into decorative and functional items like baskets, trays, and containers. It›s a craft passed down through generations, where mothers teach their daughters the skillful art of weaving. One of the most popular basketry materials is Qash, Arabic for wheat stalks. The humble wheat plant has long been a staple crop in Palestine, and its stalks are woven into intricate patterns to create beautiful baskets. However, the decrease in wheat farming and the resulting higher price in recent years have threatened the economic viability of basketry. But the women of Palestine are not easily discouraged. They have also found innovative ways to incorporate other materials, like olive wood branches, into their weaving. Though much harder to work with, olive wood is another popular material used for making baskets, and its unique texture and durability make for stunning finished products.

Basketry The art of basket weaving is a rural heritage of Palestine, intricately woven into the fabric of the farming community for centuries. Palestinian women source materials from their surroundings, often incorporating colored twigs from olive, almond,

For Palestinian women, basket weaving is not just a craft, it›s a way of life. It›s a tradition passed down for generations and holds great cultural significance. It›s a testament to their resourcefulness, creativity, and resilience in adversity. 17

and terebinth trees into decorative and functional items like baskets, trays, and containers. It›s a craft passed down through generations, where mothers teach their daughters the skillful art of weaving. One of the most popular basketry materials is Qash, Arabic for wheat stalks. The humble wheat plant has long been a staple crop in Palestine, and its stalks are woven into intricate patterns to create beautiful baskets. However, the decrease in wheat farming and the resulting higher price in recent years have threatened the economic viability of basketry. But the women of Palestine are not easily discouraged. They have also found innovative ways to incorporate other materials, like olive wood branches, into their weaving. Though much harder to work with, olive wood is another popular material used for making baskets, and its unique texture and durability make for stunning finished products.

Basketry The art of basket weaving is a rural heritage of Palestine, intricately woven into the fabric of the farming community for centuries. Palestinian women source materials from their surroundings, often incorporating colored twigs from olive, almond,

For Palestinian women, basket weaving is not just a craft, it›s a way of life. It›s a tradition passed down for generations and holds great cultural significance. It›s a testament to their resourcefulness, creativity, and resilience in adversity. 17

Glassware

Hebron Glass refers to glass produced in Hebron and dates back to the Roman Rule, but originates back to the Pheonician glass industry. The old city of Hebron still contains a quarter named the “Glass-Blower Quarter” and it is under threat of Israeli occupation. Hebron’s glass industry relies on locally sourced raw materials, such as glass waste, making it an environmentally friendly practice. Traditionally, Hebron glass was made using sand from the village of Bani Na’im and sodium carbonate from the Dead Sea. The glass industry remains integral to Hebron’s identity, carrying on a rich tradition of craftsmanship and innovation. Today, only four glass workshops exist and are operated by master-level artisans with generations of skill and know-how. Blue is the most iconic color but collections are available in clear, green, turquoise, deep purple, and ochre.

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Glassware

Hebron Glass refers to glass produced in Hebron and dates back to the Roman Rule, but originates back to the Pheonician glass industry. The old city of Hebron still contains a quarter named the “Glass-Blower Quarter” and it is under threat of Israeli occupation. Hebron’s glass industry relies on locally sourced raw materials, such as glass waste, making it an environmentally friendly practice. Traditionally, Hebron glass was made using sand from the village of Bani Na’im and sodium carbonate from the Dead Sea. The glass industry remains integral to Hebron’s identity, carrying on a rich tradition of craftsmanship and innovation. Today, only four glass workshops exist and are operated by master-level artisans with generations of skill and know-how. Blue is the most iconic color but collections are available in clear, green, turquoise, deep purple, and ochre.

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Leather

The leather industry in Palestine has a long-standing history rooted in the ancient city of Hebron. Familyowned tanneries have operated in the town for centuries and contributed significantly to the local economy. Palestinian leather is known for its exceptional quality, and local artisans use it to make a wide range of traditional products, including shoes, belts, bags, and other decorative items. Leather made from cow, goat, and camel hides is sourced from various communities across the West Bank and Gaza Strip and processed into fine materials for artisans.

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Leather

The leather industry in Palestine has a long-standing history rooted in the ancient city of Hebron. Familyowned tanneries have operated in the town for centuries and contributed significantly to the local economy. Palestinian leather is known for its exceptional quality, and local artisans use it to make a wide range of traditional products, including shoes, belts, bags, and other decorative items. Leather made from cow, goat, and camel hides is sourced from various communities across the West Bank and Gaza Strip and processed into fine materials for artisans.

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Textiles & Embroidery

Palestinian embroidery is used to adorn traditional women’s dresses and is used today in modern items like cushions, bags, and shawls. As a Palestinian traditional craft, it has been handed down through many generations, and utilizes a variety of techniques to make attractive decoration on clothes that illuminates subjects and themes that are integral to the lives of many Palestinian women. The colors used in Palestinian embroidery are derived from natural sources, such as plants and insects. For example, red is created by mixing pomegranate skins with other plants and insects like cochineal, while indigo, in shades of blue, is made from a plant cultivated in the Jordan River Valley. The motifs and color schemes of

the embroidery express a woman›s feelings and stage in life. For instance, in Hebron, older women wore dresses embroidered with purple threads, while younger women and girls embroidered their dresses with red and green.

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Textiles & Embroidery

Palestinian embroidery is used to adorn traditional women’s dresses and is used today in modern items like cushions, bags, and shawls. As a Palestinian traditional craft, it has been handed down through many generations, and utilizes a variety of techniques to make attractive decoration on clothes that illuminates subjects and themes that are integral to the lives of many Palestinian women. The colors used in Palestinian embroidery are derived from natural sources, such as plants and insects. For example, red is created by mixing pomegranate skins with other plants and insects like cochineal, while indigo, in shades of blue, is made from a plant cultivated in the Jordan River Valley. The motifs and color schemes of

the embroidery express a woman›s feelings and stage in life. For instance, in Hebron, older women wore dresses embroidered with purple threads, while younger women and girls embroidered their dresses with red and green.

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Tiles & Ceramics

The more recent hand painted ceramics that you see in the markets today though are newer to Palestine. Their style was brought from Armenian artists who were invited to Jerusalem to help restore the Dome of the Rock and replace some 48,000 tiles. The trade flourished from there and now Palestine has developed a rich ceramics industry known for its vibrant colors and floral motifs. The first ceramics workshop in Hebron was established in 1962 by Abd Elrahim Jamal Tamimi, and the industry prospered, making Hebron a central hub for this handicraft. However, due to the deteriorating political situation, the number of ceramics workshops has dropped dramatically since the second intifada broke out in 2000.

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Tiles & Ceramics

The more recent hand painted ceramics that you see in the markets today though are newer to Palestine. Their style was brought from Armenian artists who were invited to Jerusalem to help restore the Dome of the Rock and replace some 48,000 tiles. The trade flourished from there and now Palestine has developed a rich ceramics industry known for its vibrant colors and floral motifs. The first ceramics workshop in Hebron was established in 1962 by Abd Elrahim Jamal Tamimi, and the industry prospered, making Hebron a central hub for this handicraft. However, due to the deteriorating political situation, the number of ceramics workshops has dropped dramatically since the second intifada broke out in 2000.

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Bedouins have relied on their trusty noul wooden loom for centuries, skillfully weaving together strands of hand-spun and dyed yarns from the beloved Awassi sheep. The Palestinian people›s rich cultural heritage inspires these rugs› unique designs. Each rug tells a story of local folklore, with motifs and ornaments passed down through the ages. These traditional designs still flourish in some of the more remote Palestinian villages.

Rugs

One of the most famous and highly regarded places for handmade rugs in Palestine is Samou Village in the southern part of the West Bank. The people of Samou› have been weaving rugs for centuries, passing on their knowledge and expertise from generation to generation. The Samou rugs are known for their intricate patterns and vivid colors.

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Bedouins have relied on their trusty noul wooden loom for centuries, skillfully weaving together strands of hand-spun and dyed yarns from the beloved Awassi sheep. The Palestinian people›s rich cultural heritage inspires these rugs› unique designs. Each rug tells a story of local folklore, with motifs and ornaments passed down through the ages. These traditional designs still flourish in some of the more remote Palestinian villages.

Rugs

One of the most famous and highly regarded places for handmade rugs in Palestine is Samou Village in the southern part of the West Bank. The people of Samou› have been weaving rugs for centuries, passing on their knowledge and expertise from generation to generation. The Samou rugs are known for their intricate patterns and vivid colors.

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Miscellaneous

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Miscellaneous

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2023