![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JVYJWQ4Y2VBPBJ2PSKCNA2BC44.jpg?smart=true&auth=dd56669ab99dcf24e9b554ef6ce7a0ea42c5c39996b8750fe06951cf3eae9b27&width=400&height=225)
Irthi craftswomen have received orders from international brands including Cartier and Bvlgari. Photo: Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EQGRQVWVTBGXBF7JQCLWIKATGI.jpg?smart=true&auth=56bd9071b885b300976f0f3eff5317098383e55468c2e33e32d2bacd5acdf870&width=400&height=225)
Emirati craftswomen Fatima Al Naqbi, Sheikha Al Dhuhoori, and Fatima Ahmad Mahmoud — known as "Umm Ahmed" — at an event explaining how a government initiative in Sharjah has helped them turn their passion into a profitable business. Photo: Salam Al Amir
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N5D2E53BNBDE7HMCAT2CUCLXXU.jpg?smart=true&auth=55d701ac0e9fad0958c5fc90a6127049a5cf816655bd634a6a943c2c393f44fd&width=400&height=225)
A Brazilian artisan learns the Emirati Talli braid-weaving craft from Irthi craftswomen, at the Sao Paulo International Book Fair in 2018. Photo: Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5H4E65W6EFA6ZDNV5VP2YE6LJM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=30788a7333729db7bf214203136662255e0d48dd72be99c05e571fc6c024c4cd&width=400&height=225)
An Irthi artisan weaves straw baskets and mats out of palm fronds. Photo: Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N34A6PGBJZHI7O4GAWPRRXLCGM.jpg?smart=true&auth=efb2ba93677a78895fa3e302322609e5a65a906a1fbeec3273e7b93673640b52&width=400&height=225)
An Irthi artisan introduces a visitor to Emirati traditional costume at the Sao Paulo International Book Fair in 2018. Photo: Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WUUHGRHCLFA6DHT2Q6YKLLRACU.jpg?smart=true&auth=4f73ab42e0ca914eefd57a36bad70ed5f3da1597744b48150e3c1f9ae7aea56c&width=400&height=225)
In 2019, Irthi brought together Emirati craftswomen and international designers to create products for a global market. Photo: Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council
Irthi has partnered with designers including Pakistan's Studio Lel, UK-based artists Adi Toch, Kazuhito Takadoi and Patricia Swannell, and Palestinian designer Dima Srouji. Photo: Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/US2EDMI4QRCFVBZSAVP6KNBHGM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ad4f09cf6ee2220a0d37c5a39a2d4d2abc33ce96b896cb2329eb7693f37a3ef8&width=400&height=225)
Emirati craftswoman Umm Ahmed at a Nama Women Advancement session at the annual International Government Communication Forum in Sharjah. A screen shows Britain's then Prince Charles watching craftswomen at work. Photo: Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JVYJWQ4Y2VBPBJ2PSKCNA2BC44.jpg?smart=true&auth=dd56669ab99dcf24e9b554ef6ce7a0ea42c5c39996b8750fe06951cf3eae9b27&width=400&height=225)
Irthi craftswomen have received orders from international brands including Cartier and Bvlgari. Photo: Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EQGRQVWVTBGXBF7JQCLWIKATGI.jpg?smart=true&auth=56bd9071b885b300976f0f3eff5317098383e55468c2e33e32d2bacd5acdf870&width=400&height=225)
Emirati craftswomen Fatima Al Naqbi, Sheikha Al Dhuhoori, and Fatima Ahmad Mahmoud — known as "Umm Ahmed" — at an event explaining how a government initiative in Sharjah has helped them turn their passion into a profitable business. Photo: Salam Al Amir
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N5D2E53BNBDE7HMCAT2CUCLXXU.jpg?smart=true&auth=55d701ac0e9fad0958c5fc90a6127049a5cf816655bd634a6a943c2c393f44fd&width=400&height=225)
A Brazilian artisan learns the Emirati Talli braid-weaving craft from Irthi craftswomen, at the Sao Paulo International Book Fair in 2018. Photo: Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5H4E65W6EFA6ZDNV5VP2YE6LJM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=30788a7333729db7bf214203136662255e0d48dd72be99c05e571fc6c024c4cd&width=400&height=225)
An Irthi artisan weaves straw baskets and mats out of palm fronds. Photo: Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N34A6PGBJZHI7O4GAWPRRXLCGM.jpg?smart=true&auth=efb2ba93677a78895fa3e302322609e5a65a906a1fbeec3273e7b93673640b52&width=400&height=225)
An Irthi artisan introduces a visitor to Emirati traditional costume at the Sao Paulo International Book Fair in 2018. Photo: Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WUUHGRHCLFA6DHT2Q6YKLLRACU.jpg?smart=true&auth=4f73ab42e0ca914eefd57a36bad70ed5f3da1597744b48150e3c1f9ae7aea56c&width=400&height=225)
In 2019, Irthi brought together Emirati craftswomen and international designers to create products for a global market. Photo: Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council
Irthi has partnered with designers including Pakistan's Studio Lel, UK-based artists Adi Toch, Kazuhito Takadoi and Patricia Swannell, and Palestinian designer Dima Srouji. Photo: Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/US2EDMI4QRCFVBZSAVP6KNBHGM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ad4f09cf6ee2220a0d37c5a39a2d4d2abc33ce96b896cb2329eb7693f37a3ef8&width=400&height=225)
Emirati craftswoman Umm Ahmed at a Nama Women Advancement session at the annual International Government Communication Forum in Sharjah. A screen shows Britain's then Prince Charles watching craftswomen at work. Photo: Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JVYJWQ4Y2VBPBJ2PSKCNA2BC44.jpg?smart=true&auth=dd56669ab99dcf24e9b554ef6ce7a0ea42c5c39996b8750fe06951cf3eae9b27&width=400&height=225)
Irthi craftswomen have received orders from international brands including Cartier and Bvlgari. Photo: Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council
Emirati women using UAE’s generations-old skills to turn their passion into a business
Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council helped connect women with international designers
![Salam Al Amir](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F14cf208b-b6e1-4168-b2d6-fc412e925845.png?smart=true&auth=e3387949bf35bf75999cb80683180b835359c18c3a7854732b369d5d38909e7d&width=70&height=70)
Salam Al Amir
04 October, 2022
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