Zabbaleen Products

Handmade in Egypt

Our products are handmade in the heart of Cairo by expert and innovative craftswomen. Everything is made from clean recycled materials and turned into useful, beautiful and unique items. The sources are carefully chosen; new fabric scraps and offcuts come from textile factories, printed paper from shops and educational establishments. Ties, ringpulls and coffee capsules are donated straight to the A.P.E. Nothing comes out of the garbage.

The makers belong to an Egyptian NGO, the Association for the Protection of the Environment (A.P.E.), which has a 35 year history of working alongside the Zabbaleen, the informal garbage collectors’ community. Through the A.P.E.'s development programmes, women especially have become empowered to build better lives for themselves and their families and children.

We buy the products on Fair Trading terms and donate a substantial percentage of our profit to support the A.P.E. community projects.

Warm your feet this Autumn

with our featured product of the month

Rug, Stripe & Ribbon

Regular price: £30.00
Sale price: £30.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

This handwoven rug is made from recycled textile factory offcuts, and will brighten any room, (including the bathroom). It is machine washable, of high quality and hard wearing. Dimensions: 1 metre x 70cm approx.

The photograph below shows the slight variations that can be expected, depending on the weaver (e.g. the order of the stripe colours).

Paper-making workshop

Using traditional skills, recycled paper is pulped and remade into a wide range of beautiful handmade stationery items.

Textiles workshop

The craftswoman work co-operatively on site and can drop in for advice or to share skills

New Products

Community members are innovative in developing new products

Skilled and empowered

Zabbaleen community members are encouraged to develop their careers with the A.P.E. and are involved at every level.

Our products are

Eco-friendly - made from recycled materials

Ethically sourced - the makers work with fair trade standards

Handmade skilfully and to high standards

OFFERED POSTAGE FREE TO UK SHOPPERS

Shipping costs will be added at the checkout for all other countries

Beautifully decorative gift bags

skilfully handmade and enhanced

Discarded offcuts of furnishing fabrics

made into useful bags - each one a unique design

Recycled aluminium ring pulls

Discarded drinks can tabs upcycled as decorative containers

Vibrantly colourful, strong rugs

hand woven from offcuts and scraps