Macramé has been making a major comeback in Egypt recently, with every knot telling a story and every thread weaving a narrative. Blended with tradition and having a modern artistic touch, macramé has been weaving its way into the fabric of the modern arts.
There is something beautiful about handmade macramé decoration, something that makes it feel extra special. Perhaps it’s the knowledge that a craftsman’s hands have worked tirelessly for days to produce a masterpiece for you, a customer who appreciates how much work has gone into making such decorative art.
But macramé is much more than just an element of décor. It is an art that has a cultural essence and a versatile nature that can suit everyone.
People now are buying more and more macramé items, from jewellery and dresses to luxury styling materials for the home. Artists are incorporating macramé knots into handbags and clothes or creating pieces that stretch across windows, cascade from ceilings, and hang on walls.
They are also exploring the potential of macramé to create intricate installations that can take the place of paintings and sculptures in other forms.
Heba Gaafar started her macramé business nearly a year ago when she realised how much she loved buying macramé products. Instead of buying them, she said to herself, “why not give it a try myself?” That was the moment she started learning how to make macramé, and she has barely stopped since.
Gaafar was already used to making handmade craft items, such as crocheted and embroidered gifts or customised tumblers. By following YouTube tutorials, she quickly learned how to tie macramé knots and to discover more about cording, threading, and yarn.
“Of course, it was a matter of trial and error, particularly at first. But I continued my self-learning by looking through the many visual references for macramé on the Internet, including old and new styles and local and international ones. That’s how I started to boost my own design business as an artist,” Gaafar said.
She adopted the bohemian style that is now widespread in Egypt. “Everyone wants to adopt the Boho style, and I saw that much interior design today relies heavily on handmade products. This has helped the handmade industry, as I know many handicraft artists are working hard to meet their clients’ needs in such a fast-growing market,” she added.
Gaafar also helps train young women in macramé styles and designs, feeling that it is her responsibility to pass this skill on to as many people as possible. “Some artists might feel inclined not to train others, but I feel that we need more people who are trained – and this will also help us to compete internationally,” she said.
“But we need better marketing strategies and businesspeople to guide us through the international market,” she added, pointing to her own Facebook page called “Hoba Handmade.”
Although Gaafar receives international orders, especially from the Arab countries, she does not always trust the shipping companies with her delicate products. These need to be very carefully handled if they are to arrive at their destination unspoiled.
Her bestselling macramé items include curtains and wall hangings, she said.
Though macramé has only been spreading widely recently, it actually dates back to the 13th century when Arab weavers used it to decorate fabrics. It was imported into Europe in the 19th century, when it became widely used in domestic crafts.
This intricate art form became a powerful symbol of feminine social status and domestic refinement that swept through many Victorian households like wildfire. From humble sailor’s knots to elaborate parlour masterpieces, macramé was transformed from a practical maritime skill into an essential element of Victorian domestic culture.
The word itself is derived from the Arabic “migramah,” which means “fringe” or textile “ornament.” Weavers from the Middle East used different knotting techniques to finish the edges of woven tapestries, rugs, and shawls. Some historians believe that the ancient Persians and Babylonians used macramé-like knotting in artefacts dating back millennia.
“The intricate patterns and elaborate designs of macramé tell stories of ingenuity, community, and the pursuit of beauty in everyday life,” said Sarah Atef, a macramé artist.
It has been used for all kinds of design, even children’s room designs, she said, with the latter including elaborate baby carriers, decorative nursery hangings, and miniature furniture pieces demonstrating maternal love and creative dedication.
These pieces often feature whimsical designs, pastel colours, and protective symbols that reflect people’s beliefs about childhood and the importance of beautiful surroundings for child development.
Atef said that macramé is also seasonal, since many people will buy pieces depending on the occasion they are celebrating. “We get bombarded with orders in Ramadan, when people ask for religious shapes such as the Crescent and the lamp and so on,” she said.
Children’s pieces are in high demand, as many people like to personalise their children’s rooms with custom designs that suit their favourite TV characters.
“Baby showers have become one of the main events we cater to as macramé artists, for example, when we will customise pieces to suit the client’s needs. What is so special about these gifts is that they are very long-lasting. They are difficult to damage or spoil, and they are also washable and can be used anywhere,” Atef added.
Macramé has now gone beyond its use in basic plant hangers and wall hangings to include everything that a house might need, being recognised as an important decorative art. “You can decorate your whole house using macramé products, with every corner presenting something special,” she said.
“I love buying macramé products. I have just bought a mirror hanging using macramé that I have been looking for, for weeks,” said Mariam Mohamed, a newly-wed bride.
She said she wanted to decorate her house in bohemian style, and she has bought all kinds of handicrafts, ranging from scarves to vases, hanging many pieces on the walls.
“I’m really enjoying the traditional touch macramé has brought to the house,” she said. “It makes it feel very special.”
* A version of this article appears in print in the 20 November, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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