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Designer Shaikha Marwa Abdulrahman Al Khalifa created a series of colourful handwoven bags featuring pictures of His Majesty the King and members of the ruling family in celebration of Bahrain National Day.
The Bayanah Brand, which aims to highlight the kingdom’s heritage through handmade accessories, kaftans and masks, has unveiled several handwoven bags featuring traditional embroidery designs and images of the ruling family drawn by Shaikha Muneera Isa Al Khalifa and Sara Al Rumaihi, also known as @astrokeof.art, on Instagram.
“We created the special ‘Royal’ bags featuring His Majesty King Hamad, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince Prime Minister, and the late Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, with royal embroidery,” said Shaikha Marwa.
“The bags were hand drawn on A4 using charcoal by Shaikha Muneera and Sara and then printed on canvas.
“The hand-weaving craft in Bahrain is known as Bahraini Naseej and that has been a part of our history for more than three centuries.
“I’d love for more people to get to know about Bahrain through our handicrafts.”
The colourful collaboration sold out immediately and Shaikha Marwa is already working on a new series with the duo that will feature the faces of royals from all over the Gulf states.
According to Shaikha Marwa, all the designs were inspired from her own personal collection of historical Bahraini clothes and modified in her unique designs.
She personally chooses and designs every single item as she has always loved being creative from a young age. The only difference is that her personal passion project became a fully-fledged company.
Shaikha Marwa has her own workshop in which she works with Bahraini weavers, provides the fabrics, draws and designs the collection too.
Her inspiration for her brand has all been heavily influenced by her mother.
She said: “The brand was influenced by my mother Shaikha Haya bint Ali Al Khalifa, the former Under Secretary of the Museums and Antiquities in Bahrain, whom was an avid supporter of all Bahraini handicrafts, cultural arts and music throughout the 1960s, 70s and 80s. She was also the first female archeologist in the Arabian Gulf.
“It was her passion for Bahrain’s ancient hand-weaving craft that influenced my creativity and drove me to make the Bayanah brand. My aim is to turn the ancient hand-weaving craft into an international brand that competes with the best in the world.
“Everything we do is hand-woven and hand-embroidered from our bags to shawls to our exquisite kaftans and super luxury jewelled evening bags – all made of limited numbers and delicately-crafted.
“I aspire to see Bayanah brand grow into many parts of the world and develop new creative and unique ideas that takes our beautiful traditions and crafts globally.”
For details, follow @bayanah_brand on Instagram.
