Ibrahim Muhtadi - Sulafa Embroidery Centre - UNRWA, Gaza city 2018

Sulafa Embroidery Center, born in 1949 under the wings of a UNRWA. What began as a short-term response has grown into one of the largest United Nations programs, weaving hope into the lives of Palestinian refugees. For over 70 years, it still plays a vital role in delivering essential services that support the well-being, human development, and safeguarding dignity through each stitch of heritage and resilience.

My journey with Sulafa began in 2017 in Gaza, where I had the privilege of serving as both Manager and Product Designer for this historic initiative. Over the course of three years, my work went beyond management and business development, allowing me to shape the project’s artistic direction and contribute to its design innovation.

While Sulafa had a long tradition of producing classic Palestinian embroidery, my vision was to maintain its cultural authenticity while introducing contemporary elements—modern color palettes, refined cuts, and updated silhouettes—ensuring the work remained relevant to both heritage admirers and new audiences. I worked closely with master embroiderers in the upstairs workshop, a creative space filled with hundreds of cotton threads, fabrics, and accessories. There, we experimented with new prototypes, integrating Arabic calligraphy into embroidery, often drawing from Palestinian poetry to create patterns for scarves, handbags, and tablecloths. I introduced patchwork techniques to upcycle unused fabric pieces into vibrant cushion covers, and incorporated the handwoven Majdalawi fabric—historically linked to Al-Majdal village close to Gaza—into handbags, tote bags, and even a tailored jacket with single-color embroidery motifs.

Production