Threads of Hope & Madu Showcase Egyptian Crafts at Diriyah Biennale

Egyptian artisan collectives Threads of Hope (TOH) and Madu made their debut in Saudi Arabia this April as part of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation’s cultural programme, introducing Saudi audiences to Egypt’s rich traditions in embroidery, natural dyeing, and sustainable craftsmanship.

TOH led two hands-on masterclasses for visitors: an embroidery workshop at the Diriyah Foundation’s Turuq: The Many Ways of Food symposium, and a natural dye workshop at the Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah. Both events brought Egypt’s artistic heritage into direct dialogue with regional culture, using craft to highlight shared values in Islamic art and design.

The embroidery sessions, which took place over three days, invited participants to create hand-embroidered placemats, integrating traditional motifs and techniques. Hosted as part of the four-day Turuq symposium, which explored Arab culinary rituals from dawn to dusk, the workshops connected the visual art of embroidery with the cultural ritual of dining.

In Jeddah, the natural dye workshop focused on the symbolism of fruits and plants in the Qur’an, using pomegranate skins, turmeric, and other natural materials to dye cloth pouches. The session was designed to quietly explore Islamic ideas of sacred nature while offering participants an accessible encounter with Egypt’s textile traditions.

Founded in Cairo, Threads of Hope is a social enterprise that trains and employs refugee and migrant women in a range of artisanal techniques, including embroidery, crochet, ajour, hand painting, and patchwork. The organisation also offers psychological, medical, and social support. “It’s about dignity, visibility, and giving their work the platform it deserves,” TOH shared.

Their partner Madu, also based in Cairo, produces eco-conscious handmade products, many of which are crafted by TOH’s artisans. At the Biennale, Madu presented a selection of sustainably made homewares and textiles, further positioning Egyptian craft within a contemporary regional design context.

According to TOH, participation in the Diriyah Biennale Foundation was “a big moment” for both collectives. “For Madu, it’s a chance to introduce Egyptian craftsmanship to a regional design audience — and show that these products carry not just beauty, but story and meaning. For Threads of Hope, it's an opportunity to showcase the talent and skill of the refugee and migrant women producing at TOH.”

While the workshops marked TOH and Madu’s first public engagement in Saudi Arabia, both collectives see this as the beginning of a larger journey—one that blends heritage and empowerment, tradition and contemporary relevance, as they work to expand their presence in the Kingdom and across the region.