Ghandarah

Preserving Heritage & Crafting Memories

Ghandarah is a Heritage Studio and Concept Store that brings Palestinian craftsmanship into dialogue with contemporary design and heritage from other cultures. More than a marketplace, it is a cultural space where handmade pieces carry stories, revive memory, and celebrate beauty across traditions. Through artistry, design, and collaborations, Ghandarah becomes both a store of unique creations and a studio of heritage, a meeting point between the past and the present, art and community, identity and expression.

The Ghandarah Concept

Ghandarah is more than a name, it’s a concept rooted in heritage, shaped by craftsmanship, and alive with cultural memory.
Inspired by the Arabic word غَنْدَرَة which evokes elegance, grace, and soulful presence, Ghandarah reflects a way of being both timeless and expressive.

Rooted in Palestine and connected to the world, Ghandara is a space where tradition walks forward, where handmade pieces carry stories, revive memory, and celebrate beauty across cultures. It is a meeting point between the old and the new, between art and community, a space of heritage, storytelling, and creative exchange.

The Heart Behind Ghandarah

I was born and raised in Jerusalem, Palestine. It was there, amidst the ancient stone architecture and lived traditions, that my love for craft was first sparked. From a young age, I was immersed in making, learning from my mother, a tailor and knitting professional, and my father, a one-of-a-kind master artisan in bamboo (khizran / خيزران) who dedicated his life to teaching this craft, whose legacy remains and influence is still felt today. Their creativity shaped my earliest sense of beauty, patience, and the meaning of handmade work.

Heritage as Resilience
As a Palestinian from Jerusalem, I carry not only the richness of my culture but also the weight of living under an occupation that seeks to erase our history and presence. In this context, crafts are far more than art; they are a form of resistance and resilience (Sumud). Every stitch, motif, and handmade piece becomes an act of remembrance, a quiet but powerful declaration: we are here, and we endure.

The Professional Journey
That early spark evolved into a lifelong academic and professional pursuit. I studied Architecture, drawn to the dialogue between form, space, and history, before pursuing a Master’s in Museum Studies to deepen my understanding of how objects carry memory across time.
Over the last 18 years, my career in education, social innovation, and programme design has allowed me to work with diverse communities across the MENA region and internationally. Today, I feel it is the right moment to bring these paths together: to combine my passion for heritage with my strategic expertise in innovation and collaboration.

Why Ghandarah?
Founded in 2025, Ghandarah is the natural weaving of these influences: family tradition, academic study, and professional experience rooted in social impact. It is a Concept Store and Heritage Studio where Palestinian craftsmanship enters into dialogue with contemporary design, creating bridges across generations and cultures.

For me, Ghandarah is not just a brand. It is a living archive, one that honours where I come from, carries forward the artistry of those before me, and reimagines our identity for the future.

Shirin Husseini
Founder, Ghandarah

My story is etched into the stone streets of Jerusalem, where every texture and tradition taught me that heritage is a living language.

Our Partners

At Ghandarah, collaboration is at the heart of what we do. We believe that heritage grows stronger when shared through dialogue, creativity, and collective work.
Our partners include artisans, designers, educators, cultural institutions, and community organisations who share our commitment to preserving heritage and reimagining it for the future. Together, we create workshops, collections, exhibitions, and exchanges that bridge traditions and bring people closer through craft and storytelling.

If you are interested in collaborating with us, we’d love to hear from you.