23 Feb Handicrafts by Butterfly Design
With the goal of bringing Tunisian handmade craftsmanship to people everywhere, Butterfly design, specializing in luxury hotel linen, catering linen, and other handicraft products, was founded in May 2018, under the leadership of Tunisian entrepreneur Ismahen Saidi.
The handicrafts produced are renowned for their high quality, inspired by traditional designs, and manufactured to be used in contexts ranging from hotels, restaurants, public spaces to homes. The introduction of these products is well-aligned with current trends promoting craftsmanship and heritage.
Each piece is meticulously handcrafted with careful attention to detail offering an heirloom quality. The techniques used to produce the pieces are inspired by the Tunisian tradition and include hand-weaving, needlepoint, and embroidery.
The collection includes a variety of items to offer a complete experience: trays, napkins, table runners, upholstery textiles, and other accessories for high-end interior design projects. In addition, the attractive and minimalist designs, pave the way to a broad range of new products.
What makes Products at Butterfly Design unique?
Butterfly Design brings together traditional Tunisian handicrafts, high-end textile manufacturing, and modern marketing. The company focuses on creating a new design language in the luxury objects manufactured within Tunisia.
The motivation behind Butterfly Design is to bring the craftsmanship back to its roots by adhering to old production methods while adding a touch of contemporary creativity. The company aims to reintroduce the “Savoir-faire” through its products, branding, and communication by working closely with Tunisian artisans.
The cultural heritage is present in every product thanks to the preservation of traditional knowledge and craftsmanship which has been handed down from generation to generation. The products are made in Tunisia by skilled artisans and workers with 85% mainly consisting of women.
The company ‘Butterfly Design” is promoting the disadvantaged artisan women in marginalized communities, by offering them training, coaching, and creating for them economic opportunities to manufacture handmade products that can compete in the international market. The company aspires to be a reference for the contemporary market and is dedicated to the rebirth of craftsmanship in Tunisia through innovative design,
Butterfly 3 categories of Handicrafts
1. Olive wood products and articles
”Butterfly Design” has started the manufacturing and selling of Tunisian handicrafts Olive wood crafts and articles, made by local artisans in Tunisia. As a hardwood, olive wood requires specialist skills and tools to work it. It is a very durable material that can be used daily in the kitchen such as chopping boards, cheese boards, plates, etc.
As for its colors, it is beautifully varied and rich, ranging from the light yellow of the freshly sawn wood to the deep brown of the most mature pieces.
Today, the company specializes in the manufacturing of Olivewood knives, handlers, furnishing accessories, letters opening, rustic bowls, pistol grips, etc.. The light yellow and veined wood of the olive tree is highly sought after for a variety of crafts. The irregular fibbers make it perfect for turning, cabinet making, and sculpture.
2. Pottery of Sejnane Products and Article
Butterfly Design has also started the manufacturing and selling of Tunisian handicrafts pottery products, made by artisans in Tunisia.
Tunisian pottery is one of the oldest crafts in the history of humanity. It has been a sacred occupation for centuries. The traditional craftsmanship skills associated with clay work have been handed down from generation to generation through many families over time. In addition to their practical benefits, objects produced from this material are imbued with deep symbolic meaning that reflects their artistic value.
Handcrafted ceramics from Sejnane Artisanal Pottery reflect a thousand years long traditions passed down from ancestors who once populated what is now northwest Tunisia in a region called Sejnane. This region is dotted with countless kilns, a vivid reminder of its glorious past, serving as a pilgrimage site for pottery artisans to this day.
The pottery production in Sejnane remains very traditional and unchanged over the centuries. The distinctive red clay from which these pieces are made provides an ideal foundation for decorative painting in blue and white designs.
3. Natural wool carpets Including Margum, Klim, Berber carpets, etc..
The company has also started the manufacturing and selling of Tunisian handicrafts wool carpets, made by local artisans in Tunisia.
Wool carpet-making is a craft that is indigenous to Tunisia. The first evidence of this craft dates back to antiquity on the Punic amphorae unearthed at Carthage.
Traditionally, women were responsible for producing fine rugs using their skills as weavers and embroidered, but men had important roles as well, usually working as dyers or embroiderers. The wool used was obtained from domestic sheep, and occasionally goats.
In contrast to the distinct design of oriental carpets, Tunisian rugs have a more traditional or homely character. The majority are multicolored on a cotton warp with patterns consisting of geometric shapes like diamonds, triangles, and circles. They are used as wall hangings or laid on the ground for children to play on.
The best-known style is ”Margum”, named after the town where it originated in the 18th century. Another style is ”Berbere” whose name comes from the Berber word for sixteen because it comprises sixteen hues ranging from white to black. “Berber ” refers both to these woolen carpets made by the Berbers and the nomadic Berber peoples of North Africa.
The Process of Making Handicrafts
From product development to the dispatch of a finished piece, a range of skilled people are involved in order to provide customers with a unique product.
The whole manufacturing process is controlled and monitored by our producers according to the quality standards set by Butterfly Design. The whole process starts when we receive an order from our clients; We choose carefully all our suppliers and manufacturers depending on their experience and reputation in this field.
A team of designers gets down to work in order to give life to new ideas and concepts and produce sketches that will be shown to our clients for approval. When the design is finalized, we start looking for the raw materials and the best suppliers to provide us with high-quality products; we meticulously monitor work processes in order to ensure that everything goes well and as planned. This is the time when we start producing all kinds of handicrafts. All these activities are carried out under strict supervision, so as not to lose any details or neglect any stage.
And finally, it’s time for packaging where each piece is ready to be sent anywhere around the world safely, thanks to a fully equipped transportation department that includes all kinds of secure packaging materials.
“We love what we do because this implies excellence, caring about our customers, this implies respect for our producers and this means developing all these skills which take us to the top of creativity and succeed in providing quality products.”
Ismahen Saidi – Founder and Directing Manager at Butterfly Design.
Why You Should Buy Handicrafts from Butterfly Design?
Enjoying handicrafts means getting back to traditions. Each piece is a unique item, manufactured by hand from pure natural materials using traditional techniques so as to preserve the authenticity of the craft.
We provide our customers with genuine handicrafts which meet all quality requirements and match their requirements in terms of design and price.
Our clients’ demands always come first; so if they have any special conditions, we are there to meet them. Providing originality in our handicrafts is what makes us stand out from the crowd.
At Butterfly Design, we want to share Knowledge, transmit and spread our roots, culture, patrimony, history, and all the rich treasures in our country. We seek to combine traditional and modern manufacturing techniques to provide high-quality rustic and natural products which are unique and specific to Tunisia.
We believe that Tunisia has a vast potential in handicrafts production and we aim to revive the creativity of producers as well as their abilities.
“The World is FULL of very simple ideas, if you do not do it, somebody else will take the risk and make it happen, get out of your comfort zone first. Then, you just need to be convinced and persevere till it happens.
Keep learning, discovering and sharing.” said Ismahen.
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