Meet Goya Gallagher, Co-founder and Designer of Malaika, Cairo

Could you tell us more about your brand?

Malaika is a social enterprise where we believe in producing timeless pieces for the home while equally considering those that make them.

Malaika has its own factory in the outskirts of Cairo, which enables us to produce high quality products in a nourishing working environment.

Malaika founded Threads of Hope in downtown Cairo, a tuition-free embroidery school where all women are welcome to try their hand at embroidery. We have recently opened a nursery so that our trainees can bring their children.

Can you tell us about the work you do with women in Egypt?

Malaika offered free embroidery tuition within our premises from the outset. We started with one room and women arrived by word of mouth and soon enough, we were looking for a bigger space. As we grew, so did the training program and in 2018 we decided to establish Threads of Hope as an independent embroidery school that could cater to more women.

At Threads of Hope, we teach hand embroidery to hundreds of talented Egyptian and refugee women. Regardless of their age, background, or literacy, here they receive a free two-month education in embroidery and are enabled to pursue and cultivate their individual talents. Once proficient, the women leave the centre and return to work from home. Enter Threads of Hope and you will find a colourful place where women from different countries bring their style and identity, where you will hear different languages and lots of chatter and laughter. These are women that are incredibly resilient and at Threads of Hope we want to offer them a haven, where they can learn a skill, feel respected and valued, where they can safely share their stories, and offer one another hope. 

What does embroidery mean to you? 

Embroidery is storytelling, a medium that has been used for thousands of years to record important information, thread creativity and define cultural identity. For us the beauty of hand embroidery is that no two pieces will ever be identical and that the imperfections are part of the charm. At Threads of Hope, the embroidery school founded by Malaika, embroidery is also community building giving our students an opportunity to share their stories while sitting around an embroidery table. 

Where do you find your inspiration?

The rich and layered heritage of Egypt is an infinite source of inspiration; from the sumptuous colours and pictorial traditions of Ancient Egypt and charming Coptic tapestries to the intricate patterns of the Fatimid and Mamlouk era, Egypt is a wealth of design resources.

Is there one that you particularly like?

There are many! One of our favourites is the fully embroidered Sakkara placemat. We love the boldness of the design and the colourways which are inspired by those found in Valley of the Artisans in Luxor. Another one of our favourites is the hand-embroidered ottoman vase tablecloth in cinnamon because it represents the combination of a timeless design with the highest level of craftsmanship  (cross stitch and hand-drawn embroidery) which makes it sumptuous yet inviting. And then there is the bee collection which is an explosion of colour and guaranteed to make any gathering feel festive.

What is your best advice for the perfect table setting?

For us, a successful table setting leads to a fun dinner with lots of chatter and laughter, so we like a table to be beautiful but not intimidating and prefer a setting that is not too perfect.  Layering textures, not being afraid of mixing colours, incorporating vintage pieces, and having fun with flowers. For the evening lots of candles, we particularly love the light given by alabaster candleholders because it’s warm and flattering and reminds us of how the ancient Egyptians must have dined!