Thread by thread, Libyan women keep an age-old craft alive

What the report says

In Tripoli’s old city, two Libyan cousins are working to keep traditional handweaving alive while building a small business around it. Zeinab and Aisha Madi, originally from the Nafusa Mountains southwest of the capital, learned the craft from their mothers and grandmothers and later trained with an experienced local artisan before opening their own workshop in a historic courtyard house.

According to Xinhua, the pair produce handwoven textiles, bags and other items using wool and wooden looms, often spending several days on a single piece. They say the work demands patience and precision, and they view it as part of Tripoli’s cultural identity and family heritage. The article notes that they are concerned the practice could fade as raw material costs rise, mass-produced imports compete with handmade goods, and fewer artisans remain active.

The cousins have also taken their work beyond the old city by participating in events inside and outside Libya, where their textiles have drawn interest from European tourists, diplomats and ambassadors. Their products have reportedly found buyers abroad as well. They hope to move into a larger space, expand the workshop and train more women so the tradition can be passed on to future generations.

The story was published by The Independent Uganda, drawing on Xinhua reporting from Tripoli on the role of women artisans in preserving a long-standing Libyan craft.