“Women Innovators 2024” traditional handicrafts exhibition launched in Aleppo 

With the participation of 76 women, “Women Innovators” traditional handicrafts exhibition launched its 3th edition at the Shahba Hotel, Aleppo.

The event is held within the projects of the United Nations Development Program, and it is concerned with the women working in the field of handicrafts.

The works presented in the three-day exhibition include products from 15 traditional and heritage handicrafts, including straw making, woolen crafts, beads and accessories, in addition to macramé, copperware and mosaics, as the participants were keen to present traditional products in a contemporary spirit while preserving the authenticity of these crafts.

The director of the “Innovators” project, Muhammad Qassab, stated in a statement to SANA that the project this year provided support to 76 women working in their homes with handicrafts from several professions, with the aim of developing livelihoods and sustainable development for women and working to improve and market women’s products, noting that the exhibition in the previous two sessions gave outstanding results.

During her participation in the exhibition, Ghadeer Zanabili presented artifacts from the mosaic craft, but with a new spirit and innovative ideas, as she put it, explaining that she manufactures trays, mirrors, a backgammon table, and a chess board, by inserting natural stone and wood, cutting it, and shaping it in a way that suits the piece.

Kawkab Tabakh pointed out that she presented copper works and included them in the manufacture of trays, Ramadan lanterns, and lamps, by detailing the copper, welding it, polishing it, and presenting it in different colors and shapes, to revive this craft and introduce it into homes with attractive modern ideas.

The young woman Raghad Kayali, a graduate of the Faculty of Medicine, considered the exhibition an opportunity to introduce her artistic talent despite her distance from her field of study, as she is proficient in drawing on pottery and wood, stressing that she is working to enhance her skills in this field.

Al-Aghbani embroidery using various types of fabrics, including velvet and chiffon is the most prominent product of the participant was Zahra Allawi, who explained that she also manufactures traditional abayas and popular costumes for a number of countries, including the traditional Palestinian dress and the Moroccan caftan. She also introduced embroidery to some pieces of modern clothing.

Souha Suleiman