Arts and crafts Route de la soie

This artisan bottegacreates exceptional paper products and restores old books. They produce stationery products such as notebooks, directories, albums and small cards, all of which can be personalized, as well as beautiful scarves and ties, made using the marmorizzazione technique (marbled paper). Each piece made by this team of outstanding craftsmen is like a work of art.

This workshop exhibits the work of a traditional bookbinder who has books and white notebooks, photo albums, archive boxes, covered with binding paper, or grief in different colours. One can also buy secret boxes; have the spines of his books gilded; bind his own books with a certain delay. It is this bookbinder who supplies Diwan, those bookstores in Cairo where their creations are also sold.

Rakhmon's family invites you in its traditional house to discover the art of making suzanis. Her daughter Nasiba masters no less than 14 types of embroidery stitches and gives demonstrations lasting about 45 minutes! Rakhmon, on the other hand, designs the patterns and dyes the fabrics to give them the bright colours so particular to natural materials. A unique opportunity to discover this art so typical of Uzbekistan. Dining on site to combine gastronomic and artistic discovery is also a great experience.

Tastefully furnished, on the ^2nd floor of a building at the beginning of Abovian Street, a multi-purpose place, sewing and design workshop. A wide selection of handcrafted creations in fabric, wood and other materials inspired by Armenian traditions. Nina Hovnanian reigns over these "Treasures", which have spread to Armenia (in Dilijan) and the United States. Creator of the place, she produces a line of clothing, especially for children, toys, leather goods, shoes and bags, jewellery and accessories, handmade and made in Armenia.

Recognizable with his sign that reproduces the multicolored canvas bag where the Armenian peasant stole its salt (aghaksak), this small boutique located at the very beginning of Abovian Street, after the place de la République and offers a wide selection of memories. It is one of the very first signs of the capital to have offered unformatted and original souvenirs. You will surely find something to bring into your luggage from the multitude of ceramic or fabric objects (kilims and carpets) inspired by traditional Armenian crafts, at high prices for local but affordable standards.

Shavkat Boltaev makes superb shots exposed at the bottom of this small caravanserai. Ninety per cent of his work is about Bukhara, but there are also many photographs from Surkhandarya or other parts of Uzbekistan and sometimes the work of other equally talented photographers. The themes explored range from portraits of Jews and aksakals of Bukhara to the Gypsy populations, and sketches of the monumental settings of the Silk Road stage cities. But it's the beautiful portraits that catch the eye.

It is the boutique and the offices of the famous tapestries in the village of Akhmim near Qena, north of Luxor. The work is of great finesse. The shop may be empty because sales are concentrated before Christmas. However, you will be shown a catalogue and you may be able to order: you are not a hurry? The prices are very high. It is possible to join the association in France and make donations for its action.

In search of scarves, pottery, jewelry, Egyptian clothing designed according to traditional methods? Fair Trade Egypt is the place you are looking for. This fair craft store contains a wealth of unique and rich Egyptian culture. Fair Trade Egypt offers you the productions of a network of marginalized Egyptian craftsmen's associations from all over the country.

Superb shop dedicated to Egypt in its most touching: all the crafts from the oases, Nubia, Sinai and Upper Egypt are presented there (stoles, wicker baskets, glassware, pottery, etc.). A bookstore area is set up there, with all the essentials of Egyptian literature, orientalist, art books. One could stroll there for hours! A stone's throw from Tahrir Square, a Siwi lounge is installed on the balcony: you can drink a glass of karkadeh while waiting to plunge back into the Cairo water..

I love this store, also known as "Mena Papyrus". There are several advantages to choosing this papyrus store over another. You'll get a demonstration of the papyrus-making process, in the traditional way: you'll learn all the secrets of this age-old process. The quality of the papyrus and the designs are guaranteed, and you'll be given an explanatory sheet for the design you've chosen to buy. What's more, you'll receive a warm welcome. A trusted address since 1982. We recommend it!

Passionate about wood and fine patina, Christophe Roussel, artisan cabinetmaker repairs, restores and instruit. Born in the Jura, high place of wood, this carpenter's son, grandson of antique shops, was rocked in the passion of beautiful furniture. His father bequeathed his secrets and offered him, for his 6 th birthday, his first cabinet as a cabinetmaker… Then, at school, a decisive meeting with his teacher in extremely harsh arenas, who will convey the taste of meticulous work to him. He is found in New Caledonia, where he is painting and dares to expose his works for the first time. Returning to Paris, he works for a wood specialized product company. In 2001, he settled in Marseille, created his shop-shop rue Breteils. He works as a craftsman cabinetmaker, a conservator, a teammates and gives lectures to the public to pass on the basics of his art.

Since 1996, this workshop is dedicated to continuing the tradition of the nativity and the Provençal nativity, by offering clay-based handicraft creations, with the requirement of originality, harmony of colours and representation of movement. All models have been molded and sculpted a little higher in the street and are cooked to this address on the floor and painted in front of your eyes. Offering collections of several dimensions (9, 12, 18 and 30 cm), you can also find reproductions of famous figures such as Paul Cézanne, Alphonse Daudet or Frédéric Mistral… and of course all the characters of pastoral care. The smallest nativity are worth about 20 €, those of about 100 €. On the side of the nativity there are some jewels of creator, des and soaps. You will not miss a traditional memory from the South!

Stefano and Daniele Attombri create unusual jewellery, pieces made in limited numbers, or even unique pieces, from antique Murano glass beads. The creators find their source of inspiration in the canvases representing the Rococo whims of the ladies, in the ancient splendour of Venice, in its palaces of neo-Gothic grace. The house also offers decorative objects for the home, candleholders and lamps. Dolce & Gabbana and Romeo Gigl are among the houses that have associated their names with the two brothers' creations.

This large shop, with its annexed workshop, welcomes craftsmen who seek to reinterpret the mask within the framework of traditional craftsmanship. The creation workshop being inside the shop, you will be able to observe directly how a mask is made, from A to Z: the choice of the shape, the pose of the colours. The owners explain to whoever wants to know the origin of the masks, the main characters of the Commedia dell'Arte, the colour code... If you are interested in little stories about masks, this is the place to go.

Between Campo Sant'Angelo and Campo Santo Stefano, this boutique is one of the best known in Venice for ceramic objects.

Halfway between the Vieille-Charité and the cathedral of Major, discover a rather unique place, shared between different artists. A workshop, opened 20 years ago, where talents meet and create a special atmosphere, conducive to creation. A collective of 8 creators awaits you here: three ceramists, three mosaicists, a jewelry maker and a designer. The space is uncluttered, bright, the creations are well highlighted. The emphasis is on natural materials. For the rest, take the time to discover.

An old gentleman who is very welcoming and speaks French very well will be happy to make you discover the little wonders of his store: articles in brass, fabrics, silver jewellery, traditional clothing…

Almost half the way is a small workshop where still beats the heart of the craft in a very good smell of wood. Behind one storefront, we can admire the work of marquetry: cutting, assembling… Only natural adhesives are used to make objects. The Sleiman brothers are actually wholesalers and retailers. We can buy all kinds of objects there: safes of all sizes and shapes, gaming tables, frames, boxes with or without mother's length… Work among the best in Damascus!