Stories

A Cafe in Istanbul

She sits at a café, in the heart of Istanbul, a calm space, in serene contrast to the city's vibrant rhythm. She is poised, her gaze distant yet intimate, lost in her own world, savoring the beauty...

Calligraphy Artist Samir Malik and the Eternal Design Print

On most days, artist, calligrapher and photographer, Samir Malik, can be found in his home studio in leafy West London, preparing a commission or tending to the seeds in his newly build greenhouse. 

Silk Fibres and Weaves

For almost three thousand years, China zealously guarded the secret of silk production. When silk production eventually spread from China to the rest of the world, it brought immense wealth to citi...

The Spiritual Journey in Sufism and Ebru Art

Ebru, also known as marbling, is a mesmerizing form of Turkish paper art where dyes are placed on water and manipulated to create intricate patterns. Ebru art is a testament to the profound ways in...

Manchester's Cotton Connections

By the 1850s, the majority of the raw cotton coming to Manchester was being shipped from the American south, and Manchester's cotton industry was both supporting and profiting from African slavery. 

Ebru Art - Meeting Artist Hayrettin Kozanoglu

  Deep red droplets fall from a wooden brush made of rosewood and natural horse hair. The droplets spread rapidly as they hit the water, creating huge circles that glide across the metal tray. W...

Artist Samir Malik's Calligraphy Style

"I wanted to develop something that was within the norm, but different," London-based calligraphy artist Samir Malik explains in discussing his creation of the Nahara signature print, Eternal Design. 

Indian Textiles - Ancient and Diverse

With a textile history dating back millenia, it's inspiring to see the industry in India still going strong. A glorious tradition of artisans producing textiles by hand continues right up to the pr...

Abdelaziz Haounati and the Snake Charmer

 Born in a small village in southern Morocco, the sixth in a family of ten, Abdelaziz left home at just 15, to pursue his passion for art. 

Jemma el Fna, Marrakesh

Heightening all your senses, Jemma el Fna has to be one of the most vibrant places on earth. By day, it's a colourful, sunbaked hustle-bustle, by night, equally raucous and lit up to ethereal and m...