The craftswomen at Zabbaleen Products, our maker based in the heart of Cairo, create beautiful and unique handwoven bags from fabric scraps and offcuts sourced from local textile factories.

These scrap pieces of material, that would otherwise end up in landfill, are repurposed into the sturdy and stylish shoppers and totes created on traditional pedal looms - the work is intricate and highly skilled.

All the craftswomen at Zabbaleen Products are members of the Association for the Protection of the Environment (A.P.E.) - an Egyptian NGO which has partnered with the Zabbaleen community for over 40 years. The A.P.E's development programmes include education for women and children and community projects which empower members of the Zabbaleen community to develop their skills in craft and business and build a brighter future for their families.

Zabbaleen Products adhere to Fair Trading practices and plough a large portion of their profits back in to funding the A.P.E.

Every time you buy a handcrafted bag from Zabbaleen, you can be confident that you are supporting the Zabbaleen community and partnering with them in creating job opportunities within marginalised communities, upskilling craftspeople and business owners, caring for the environment in and around Cairo and reducing landfill.