London Craft Week 2025, held earlier this month, once again celebrated the very best of British and international creativity. The festival brought together over 1,000 established and emerging makers, designers, brands, and galleries from around the world. Audiences had the opportunity to explore the diversity of contemporary craftsmanship, materials, and techniques, while engaging with stories that spanned cultures and generations.
Among the standout contributions was the Saudi Arabia Pavilion held at Cromwell Place in Kensington, which offered visitors an immersive and meaningful encounter with Saudi craftsmanship and heritage.
Entitled "Woven Whispers: Celebrating Threads of Legacy", the Saudi Pavilion spotlighted the timeless beauty and cultural depth of Sadu weaving, presented by the Heritage Commission of Saudi Arabia. This traditional Bedouin craft, historically practiced by women, transforms simple fibres into rich, geometric textiles that serve as living archives of Saudi identity. More than decorative, each design carries ancestral knowledge, personal stories, and social values—woven silently yet powerfully into every thread. The exhibition honoured these "soft storytellers" by presenting works that blend traditional techniques with modern aesthetics, showcasing the enduring relevance of Saudi craftsmanship in contemporary design.
Saudi Arabia’s cultural legacy is deeply rooted in its diverse regions and nomadic heritage, where art and craft have long been essential forms of expression and identity. From intricate woodwork and palm weaving to metal engraving and ceramics, the Kingdom is home to a wide array of traditional crafts passed down through generations. Each craft reflects the environment, resources, and customs of its region, forming a rich tapestry of material culture. Today, efforts led by national initiatives like the Heritage Commission are not only preserving these crafts but also revitalising them—integrating age-old practices into modern design and encouraging global cultural exchange.
This exhibition focuses on the Sadu weaving, featuring a variety of traditional motifs, each rich with symbolic meaning:
Al-Shajarah, with its vertical lines, symbolises growth and balance;
Al-Dalee’ah, a symmetrical, vessel-like shape, is known for its rhythmic beauty;
Al-Mathkar, made of small, framed units, adds fine texture;
Hudub, with its mirrored lines, brings visual depth;
and Al-Habbah, a softly rounded pattern that creates gentle repetition across the fabric.
This remarkable collection was the result of a collaboration between two generations of artisans: Ghareeba Al-Enezi, a master weaver from the Hirfa Association in Buraidah, who embodies the essence of traditional craftsmanship, and Hanouf Al-Muqati, a young artist committed to preserving and sharing the Sadu legacy on a global stage. Together, they wove not only textiles, but stories of cultural continuity, creativity, and shared pride—each piece a poetic expression of welcome and a celebration of heritage crafted for the future.
Photos by Lucia Carpio
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