starting from XXX per person
The workshop
You are welcomed by local women in the workshops of Tiltawein. You will meet your instructor, one of the artisan-women who have years of experience and have dedicated themselves to preserve this tradition. You are provided with the necessary materials such as needles, thread, fabric, and embroidery designs. Your instructor will demonstrate different embroidery techniques and stitches and guide you in creating your own embroidery designs. A workshop takes between 3 to 4 hours.
The workshop covers a variety of embroidery techniques as the women explain about the history of embroidery, its daily use and cultural significance, sharing a nice cup of tea and home-made sweets. You can choose to make the workshop a one-time event or if you want to expand your expertise, you can choose to participate in a series of sessions. Get inspired and design your own pillow covers, towels or scarf. After every session you take your creations with you.
Embroidery in Siwa
Siwan embroidery (tatris in Arabic) is the most famous handicraft of Siwa practiced over centuries and passed down from mother to daughter. The embroidery is known for its intricate designs, that reflect the region’s culture. It’s unique to this region and its designs can’t be found anywhere else in the world.
Siwan embroidery is exclusivley made by women and is done using silk thread. The colors used in embroidery are bold and vibrant, with the most commonly used colors being green, orange, yellow, red, and black. These colors represent the riping process of the dates, the oasis most important product. The symbols are unique and all have their own name and meaning. While before they were used as amulets for protection and good luck, today, unfortunatley, this knowledge has mostly been lost. Now, embroidery is mainly used to decorate traditional wedding dresses, scarves and the beautiful Tarfutet, the blue cover women still wear and can be spotted on the streets.