Nadine Mustafa Kahhal Looms and French artist Louis Barthélemy collaborate with Oribe, bringing ancient Egypt to life with the “Eternal Rituals”limited-editionholiday collection.
Kahhal Looms and Barthélemy, reunite to create an astounding tapestry that was unveiled this week at an Oribe event in Los Angeles. The initial partnership between Kahhal Looms, who’s long-rooted legacy is renowned for excellence in artisanship in handmade rugs, and Barthélemy, a multidisciplinary artist with a deep commitment to preserving traditional crafts, birthed the phenomenal, “Weaving Eternity” collection presented at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Egypt. The second collaboration between the two, reinforces Barthelemy’s fascination with blending the rich history of ancient Egypt and the exceptional craftsmanship of Kahhal Looms.
Kahhal Looms manifested Barthélemy’s artwork titled “Eternal Rituals” into a magical handwoven tapestry, that required nine months to create alongside a team of seasoned artisans. The process of crafting the kilim is deeply rooted in Egypt‘s heritage, going back two thousand years. This meticulous process involves the manual tying of yarns, followed by dyeing with an array of more than 20 natural pigments. The vibrant yellow and blue hues provide a beautiful background to the colorful tapestry. To bring the piece to fruition, the yarn is expertly hand-woven by Anwar Al-Ashram, a skilled weaver who resides and practices his craft in a small town within a region of the Nile delta. The vivid colors and patterns display Barthélemy’s creativity complimented by the perfect execution by Kahhal Looms.
“Eternal Rituals” is a masterpiece that transports us back in time to an enchanting world of magnificence and beauty. The three-part artwork pays homage to the beauty rituals of ancient Egypt and the significant history of haircare rituals. The piece showcases a deity whose hair flows upwards, symbolizing the flow of the Nile River. The strikingly whimsical narrative continues with the hair being treated from day to night, by mythical Egyptian creatures who braid the hair and add golden bead adornments under the gaze of the god Horus in a playful way with a nod to Oribe’s luxurious products. All framed within a decadent ancient Egyptian landscape, the detailed imagery exquisitely captures the essence of timeless beauty and the exclusive experience that Oribe products provide, harmonizing the past with the present.
Oribe, a luxury brand celebrated for its hair and beauty products, commissioned Barthélemy, to unveil a stunning and culturally rich packaging design for this year’s highly anticipated holiday collection. Oribe has a long-standing tradition of collaborating with artists to create special holiday gifting packages that not only hold exceptional products, but also serve as statement piece keepsakes. Barthélemy’s “Eternal Rituals” artwork adds another dimension to this tradition, offering a piece that captures the rich history of ancient Egypt and the opulence of Oribe’s products. The tapestry created with impeccable care and intricate detail execution, only attainable by Kahhal Looms craftsmanship, enriches this collaboration further. Barthélemy calls the project “a souvenir of the festive season.”
