Mina Abouzahra

Mina Abouzahra (*Netherlands) is a Dutch-Moroccan designer and furniture maker celebrated for her ability to fuse Moroccan craftsmanship with contemporary Dutch design. Born to Moroccan immigrants, she grew up between two cultures, a duality that profoundly shapes her work. Abouzahra is deeply passionate about the age-old skills of Moroccan weaving, a craft she has meticulously studied through in-depth research into its rich traditions and techniques. Her dedication extends to empowering rural Moroccan female artisans, collaborating with weaving cooperatives to ensure they receive fair compensation and recognition for their remarkable skills.

Since founding her design studio in 2013, Abouzahra has prioritized collaboration and ethical practices, bringing the spirit and magic of traditional Moroccan crafts into a contemporary design context. Her innovative approach to weaving is internationally recognized, showcasing how weaving traditions can be transformed and celebrated in modern design.

The Soul Of A Rug

The Soul Of A Rug is an initiative by Mina Abouzahra in collaboration with Noria Chaal
and the weavers of Taznakht. It is an immersive project showcasing the weaving traditions of the Amazigh people and the socio-economic challenges they face. The project integrates a virtual reality interactive installation, along with contemporary weaving designs by Mina Abouzahra. "The Soul Of A Rug" fosters a dialogue on the future of traditional crafts; it prompts a critical question: does traditional craftsmanship need innovation to survive, or do we as people need traditional craftsmanship to thrive?

Arab & North African Feminists 

A series of armchair designs by Abouzahra highlight the many women who came before her - clearing the path, sharpening her awareness of how deeply gender inequality runs, in medicine, in art, in government, in the everyday. The upholstery textiles on the chairs are handmade by women; knot by knot, with patience and intention, often carrying ritual, memory, and emotion in every thread. These are women who are among the least visible and least paid in their industry, yet their craft holds a quiet, undeniable power. Each chair carries that energy, and each one is named after a feminist from the MENA region, women who have stood as pillars for others, who pushed back, who made space. These are not just chairs. They are a conversation between makers.

Education

• Wood and Furniture College, Amsterdam
  

Collections

• Central Museum, Utrecht
• TextielMuseum, Tilburg
• Jewish Historical Museum, Amsterdam
• Van Eesteren Museum, Amsterdam
• Wereldmuseum, Rotterdam
• COBRA Museum, Amstelveen​