São Paulo – Born in Syria from Palestinian parents, Rahaf Hussin lived in Damascus until her teenager years, spent a year in the country during the war in 2011, then moved to Lebanon with her family. In 2017, she came to São Paulo as a refugee together with her mother and brother. Here, she got married and had a daughter.
Now at the age of 24, Rahaf pursued a Palestinian family tradition as a trade. She is selling Palestinian embroidered patches in products such as page markers (picture above), purses, wallets, dresses, shirts, pictures, key chains, and souvenirs for baby showers and wedding showers. She also embroiders Portuguese and Arabic names on demand.
Speaking a little Portuguese, Rahaf talked to ANBA on the phone. “I learned to embroider with my mother. It’s an Arab work, but mine is more typical from Palestine,” she said.
She said that the tradition started with her grandparents. In Syria, Rahaf used to embroider to make gifts to her family and friends. She explains that it is a difficult craft, that few people make as it is very painstaking.
Her project can be found on Facebook as Artes do Patrimônio and Instagram as Yafa Artes 1904. “I put the name of my daughter, Yafa, which is also the name of a Palestinian city,” she said. The number refers to her daughter’s birthday, April 19.
“The Palestinian embroidery art is considered an important folk tradition passed on through the generations and a symbol of the Palestinian identity, an art that is still strong among the Palestinians,” says her Facebook page.
Rahaf lives in the neighborhood of Bela Vista with her husband, daughter and mother-in law and says that she likes São Paulo, as it is a beautiful big city. She said that she hadn’t been working since arriving in Brazil, and that is why she started this project.
The key chains and page markers cost BRL 15 each, or three for BRL 40. The prices of the purses range from BRL 40 to 200, depending on the size. The baby shower souvenirs are BRL 10 each. Rahaf herself delivers in São Paulo and ships her products across Brazil.
Quick Facts
Yafa Artes – Artes do Patrimônio
Facebook
Instagram
+55 (11) 97749-6686
rahafraame@gmail.com
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
