Al-Nakhaal - Stool

Palm tree climbers are a group of individuals with inherited expertise who have been using the same traditional method to climb trees for thousands of years. Climbing the palm tree is a necessary task that must be completed twice a year. The first is to chop and clean the fronds, while the second climb is for harvesting the dates. A climber wears a sling as an aid that is usually made of either palm fiber or thick cloth. “Al-Nakhaal” design, hence its name, draws inspiration from the shape and curves of the climbing sling. Dimensions: 57 x 44 x 42 cm Designer: Hazem El-Zeky This product has been developed in collaboration with CLUTSER in BICEIA project, Bridging Inequality through Creative Economy in Informal Areas. (BICEIA) is a project that integrates the designers and manufacturers in Cairo’s formal economy with artisans in informal areas. This builds upon CLUSTER’s research and social design work, along with its existing network with local communities, proposing a framework that ensures fair compensation for independent craftspeople. The project, based on a community of craftspeople in Fayoum, began with a series of introductory and capacity-building workshops, before undertaking a collaborative design process between high-end designers and local artisans, drafting prototypes and iterations to eventually reach the final pieces displayed in the Tajreeda exhibition. BICEIA fosters collaborations that develop skills, market products, and connect creative talent to income opportunities in broader distribution networks.