This Egyptian Brand Uses the Ancient Art of Macramé to Create Cute Home Accessories

When it comes to decorating a home, it’s not always about that stand-out couch or that striking table. Most of the time, it’s about the little things; that subtle tea pot holder or those cute wall hangings. That's what breathes life into any room and gives it the homey vibe we’re looking for. Egyptian brand, Threads, is giving us just that by designing charming wall hangings to place our flower pots in, simple yet elegant pot holders and other home accessories using the often underappreciated style of macramé - a knotting technique believed to have first been used by 13th-century Arab weavers.

Threads was founded three years ago by Salwa El Nahal, who initially started off by using macramé to make jewellery. Recently, however,  the Egyptian designer has taken the decorative knotting technique into the realm of home accessories.

“I make pot holders, wall hangings, candle holders, tablecloths and sometimes I’ll get recycled jars and work on them,” El Nahal tells CairoScene. “I shifted from Jewellery because I wanted to try something new. So, I started out by making a bag for myself with macramé and my friends loved it so I thought, why not?”

El Nahal prefers to freestyle rather than to stick to a specific style of design. There's a warm simplicity about her pieces - though making them is anything but - and they offer just enough of a visual flair to any setting without being distracting. 

“I used to work for [fabric and lifestyle home furnishings brand] INCA, making wall hangings and I just got some of my designs sold to a hotel that’s opening up soon in Ain Sokhna,” she reveals. “I’ve always loved working with my hands. I started making dream catchers a long time ago. When I was in high school, I helped raise money for our prom by making dream catchers and selling them. And from then on, I realised I loved working with my hands.”

Threads also takes custom orders. 

Check out threads on Instagram.