Artists: Al Madrisa Embroidery

Al Madrisa Embroidery by Fatima, Houwida and Amal

 Madrisa is Arabic for School.

Al Madrisa Embroidery uses an embroidery technique with broad cotton threads for making geometric and botanical designs onto cushions, pillows, bed sheets and children’s clothing.

In their small home-based business, 3 generations of women work and live together. Originally they come from Yemen but now Bahrain is their home.

I met these highly skilled women at the Heritage Festival held by the Ministry of Culture in April 2014 and asked them to cross-stich one of my designs. The result is the intricate Hamsa, or the Fatima hand, a design which is very popular throughout North Africa and the Middle East. It is said to have Protection powers.