El Kahhal Carpets, Cairo

What to buy here: Klim Carpets.

Klim art is one of the earliest wool spinning crafts in Egypt, obtained by shaping rugs and table covers using wool, cotton, and silk to create fabulous décor pieces.

The Klim carpets are made entirely of natural, environment-friendly materials and organic chemical-free colors, hand-made using a wooden loom. The carpets are created by mixing different threads, weaved together to create a sturdy, fine embroidery. This handicraft is still popular in Egypt, despite the flourishing of industrial carpet-making technology. Klim pieces are valued for the fine details of their drawings, the carefully-selected fabrics (Silk, Cotton, Wool) and for the number and size of stitches, not by the surface area.

Klim can be utilized in many ways. Large ones could be used as carpets, or door mats, couch covers, while the smaller ones can be hanged on walls as exquisite art pieces. Kilim carpets have a soft woolen texture, decorated in vivid colors mostly obtained from onion peels for browns, hibiscus flower for reds, and parsley for greens. Designs also vary from Nubian compositions of camels and houses, to Islamic patterns and geometric designs, or even modern art to match all tastes.