JEDDAH, 25 July 2007 — Creative housewives are exhibiting their work at the “Made At My Home” exhibition that is running through Friday.
The display is located in Roshan Mall on the second floor from 5 p.m. to midnight. The event comes as part of Jeddah Summer Festival 2007. The place was jammed on Monday night with women displaying and selling accessories, traditional food and sweets, plaques and traditional clothes.
“I design necklaces and accessories with pearls and threads,” said Khuloud Al-Fadl. “I specialize in traditional accessories and necklaces that are known for being big and made up of metal. I always see nice accessories but they are expensive. I’m trying to make nice accessories with affordable prices. I get the material mostly from Syria and Egypt.”
Amani Akeel, behind the stand that shows plaques and souvenirs related to Haj, said she participated in an exhibition at the university, the “Mother & Child” exhibition in Riyadh, and the Handicrafts exhibition in Makkah last week.
“I have a master’s degree. I specialize in clothes and materials here,” she said. “So the first thing I made was clothes for Haj in addition to other souvenirs.”
Each plaque has a picture of Kaaba and the Holy Mosque with the occasion written under the pictures. She started to be in the business eight months ago.
“Among the difficulties that are facing me is that people do not appreciate my effort. They think my things are expensive without keeping in mind the quality of the cloth I choose and the effort I make. If they saw the same Haj clothes in the market, they would buy it.”
She said she is thinking of opening a shop for her but she wants to see the feedback of the customers toward her goods.
Accessories occupied most of the exhibition.
“Since most women like accessories, I make necklaces and mobile holders and covers. Every piece I make is different than the other since it is handmade,” said Iman Hijazi, who is interested in taking courses on arts and jewelry designing.
Her coworker, Hanan Eskandarani, who has a bachelor’s degree in arts designing, makes traditional metal jewelry.
“I do tableaus of aluminum foil formed and based on the background colored with oil paint and then I paint them with a laminated coat,” she added.
They both think of establishing their own shops one day. However, raising capital is a big problem. Also, they lack the experience and knowledge.
