Reem BinKaram and Jimmy MacDonald.

Sohaila Ahmed, Staff Reporter

Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council (Irthi), an affiliate of NAMA Women Advancement Establishment, revealed 78 exclusive luxury products as part of 12 collections in home decor, jewellery, furniture, incense burners, perfume bottles, and more, during the opening ceremony of London Design Fair 2019.

Irthi is representing the UAE as the fair’s “Official Guest Country Pavilion” from Sept.19-22.

The Council’s first product line that was launched at its highest-profile international platform to date, is the result of its two pioneering projects; Design Labs and Crafts Dialogue, both of which are founded on the creative potential of collaboration and are thoroughly international in outlook.

The collections feature luxury products that were handcrafted by artisans and trainees from Irthi’s Bidwa Social Development Programnme, working together with designers, artists and makers from the UAE, the US, Spain, Pakistan, Britain, Italy, Japan and Palestine.

Ranging from sculptural totem-like chair stacks to landscape-inspired hand-blown Palestinian glass, the work on display include four collections from the Crafts Dialogue project, and eight from Design Labs. Each collection includes three to 10 items, all made by hand by more than 40 experienced women artisans and trainees, employed by Irthi’s Bidwa Social Development Programme.

Sheikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Executive Chairman of the Department of Government Relations, Sharjah, Sheikha Hind Bint Majid Al Qassimi, Chairperson, Sharjah Business Women Council, Reem BinKaram, Director, NAMA, Rawdha Alotaiba, Deputy Head of Mission at the UAE Embassy, London and Raghda Taryam, Board Member of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, were part of the fair’s official opening ceremony.