Dunia Anabtawi Threads Heritage into Carpet-Crafted Ramadan Collection

CairoScene

28-02-2025

The Iraqi-Palestinian designer transforms vintage carpets into timeless capes, inspired from Noah's Ark.
When Dunia Anabtawi set out to create her Ramadan 2025 capsule collection, she wanted it to feel different. Rooted in her Iraqi-Palestinian identity, Noah of Ark unites three creative forces: Anabtawi's signature design aesthetic, the centuries-old craftsmanship of Kahhal Looms, and the geometric artistry of contemporary Egyptian artist Ahmed Osman. The foundation of the collection lies in textures and patterns of vintage carpets sourced from Kahhal Looms, a Cairo-based institution that has been weaving rugs by hand for over 150 years. 'Just stepping into a factory that has been around for so long was an experience in itself,' Anabtawi shares. 'It took me back to Old Cairo, a place I always feel deeply connected to.'
The Muse
'I started thinking about heritage, about Ramadan as a time of gathering, belonging, and faith,' Anabtawi tells SceneStyled. The collection draws from the story of Noah's Ark, with animals etched onto the back of luxurious capes. 'As soon as I saw the carpets—their colors, textures, and vibrancy—I immediately thought of animals,' she says. 'One of the vintage carpets even had deer woven into it, which sparked the idea of incorporating animals into the collection. From there, the connection to Noah's Ark felt natural.'
For Anabtawi, the concept of home and displacement is deeply personal. Having been forced to leave her homeland more than once due to war, she understands the weight of belonging. 'Losing both my countries has shaped my idea of what 'home' means,' she reveals. 'For me, home is wherever I feel free to express myself. Clothing has always been something I could carry with me, a way to represent my identity no matter where I was.'
This sentiment is woven into Noah of Ark, where patchwork depictions of animals from the Great Flood symbolize resilience and survival. Known for threading cultural motifs like the keffiyeh into her designs, Anabtawi sees the ark as a metaphor for adaptation. 'It feels like I'm keeping a piece of home with me.'
The Collection Dissected
'For me, fashion is about feeling. I don't follow trends; if everyone is going one way, I naturally go the other,' Anabtawi explains. This instinct led her to capes, a departure from the kaftans and galabeyas that dominate Ramadan fashion. 'Last year, I followed that route, but this year, I wanted to do something unexpected. Capes felt like the perfect choice—graceful and versatile.'
Her choice of Italian cotton velvet as the base fabric was deliberate. 'Since this Ramadan falls in cooler months, the fabric provides warmth while remaining luxurious,' she shares. 'And with the carpets themselves being thick and structured, I needed a base that could support their weight without losing its fluidity.'
But working with vintage carpets wasn't easy. 'The biggest challenge was their thickness—they weren't made to be cut and shaped like fabric.' To maintain the integrity of the patterns, the team developed a precise technique: printing the animal designs, pinning them to the fabric, and numbering each section before cutting.
The collaboration with Ahmed Osman felt like a natural extension of her vision. 'I had been researching different artistic movements, and I noticed how well Art Deco and animal motifs worked together. His geometric style was exactly what I was looking for.'
The Palette
'Ramadan is a time of togetherness, and certain colors and textures bring back memories of past Ramadans spent with family,' Anabtawi says. Deep blues, rich reds, and earthy greens dominate the collection, mirroring the tones of traditional Middle Eastern textiles. 'Even when I introduced more vibrant colors with the rugs, I kept them rich and deep rather than loud.'
The Collection in Three Words
'Timeless, cultural, elegant.'
Where to Wear It This is a collection designed for lingering post-iftar teas and candlelit suhoors—no outfit change required. The capes are perfect for Ramadan evenings, balancing comfort and elegance. Whether you're sinking into cushions embroidered with crescent moons and lanterns at a family gathering, sipping qamar al-deen by the Nile, or making an entrance at a Ramadan soirée, these pieces move effortlessly with the night. How to Style It
The Designer Suggests: 'For a casual look, I'd pair them with the T-shirts we designed for this collection, along with jeans and sneakers,' Anabtawi says. 'If you're dressing them up, go with fitted or flared jeans and a silk blouse or camisole.'
Scene Styled Suggests:
Vince | High-rise Satin Maxi Skirt
The Sei | Draped One-Shoulder Silk Top
Alberta Ferretti | Leather Shoulder Bag
The Attico | Juno Ballerina Shoes
The Collection's Standout Piece
'It all started with the horse,' Anabtawi shares. 'That was the first design, the idea that brought the collection to life.' This particular cape drapes effortlessly with open sleeves, while the patchwork design gives the horse a cubist, Art Deco-inspired sensibility—the geometric pieces arranged to create depth and movement.
In the Words of Dunia Anabtawi…
'Seeing the weavers at work and the history stitched into every carpet completely changed how I look at craftsmanship. It gave me a whole new appreciation for the art and the hands behind it.'
The Verdict
Working with carpets—objects meant for the floor, not fashion—is an unconventional choice, but that's precisely what makes this collection compelling. Rather than simply repurposing vintage rugs, Anabtawi treated them as living pieces of history. The challenge of cutting, shaping, and sewing something never meant to drape the body is evident in every precise seam and carefully mapped motif. Instead of letting the weight of the material define the silhouette, she found ways to make it move.