Timeless Emirati Crafts - Desert Cotton
Learn about the traditional crafts synonymous with Emirati culture.
Few Collected Desert-Cotten in Hands By Dubai Culture by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
Commitment to Sustainability
Tasnim Tinawi's commitment to sustainability led her to seek locally sourced, eco-friendly industrial materials. This inspired the creation of 'Desert-Cotton,' an organic stuffing alternative to synthetic materials used in industry.
Few Collected Desert-Cotten in Hands By Dubai Culture by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
Rigorous Experiments for Best Results
Desert Cotton resulted from Tinawi's rigorous experiments to find the ideal stuffing material. She discovered the Aerva Javanica cotton plants that serve as an alternative stuffing material and act as natural sand binders, regulating sand stability and preventing dune migration.
The desert-based cotton plant is seemingly inconspicuous and typically grows in sandy roadsides and residential areas.
The desert-based cotton plant in roadsides by Dubai Culture by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
In other words, we had found a hidden gem with limitless potential that grows in harsh conditions and thrives.
The cotton strains to make Desert cotton are treated in a specific manner to prepare them for their function. The cotton buds are screened, pressed, treated, and dried which results in the finished material to be used in manufacturing.
One of the main advantages of cotton stuffing is that it can be used in numerous types of projects. It can be used in fashion, upholstery, and textile industries; such is the versatility of this material.
The Desert Cotton Project is considered a pioneering initiative and has received support from Tashkeel's "Tanween" program, recognizing its significant impact on the textile industry and related sectors.
Tasnim holding a small size of raw Desert-Cotton by Dubai Culture by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
Sustainability is driving the push towards finding other means to find more suitable materials for industrial use locally. This propelled the idea for an organic stuffing material as an alternative to synthetics used in industry. Behold ‘Desert-Cotton’.
Few Collected Desert-Cotten in Jar by Dubai Culture by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
Desert-Cotton was a result of stringent experimentation to find the perfect cotton strain to achieve optimum stuffing. The advantage to using cotton plants in the UAE is that they are natural sand binders which regulate sand stability and prevent dune migration.
The desert-based cotton plant in roadsides by Dubai Culture by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
The desert-based cotton plant is seemingly inconspicuous and typically grows in sandy roadsides and residential areas. In other words, we had found a hidden gem with limitless potential that grows in harsh conditions and thrives successfully.
Cotton strains are treated in a specific manner to prepare by Dubai Culture by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
The cotton strains are treated in a specific manner to prepare them for their function. The cotton buds are screened, pressed, treated, and dried which results in the finished material to be used in manufacturing.
Three Pack of Desert-cotton by Dubai Culture by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
One of the main advantages of cotton stuffing is that it can be used in numerous types of projects. It can be used in fashion, upholstery, and textile industries; such is the versatility of this material.
One pack of Desert-cotton in hands by Dubai Culture by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
The Desert-Cotton project is the first of its kind within the realms of stuffing alternatives. As it pioneers the journey to textile independence, it has achieved a breakthrough in sustainability.
Few Collected Desert-Cotten in Hands By Dubai Culture by Dubai CultureDubai Culture & Arts Authority
Desert-Cotton research process has been supported from “Tanween” programme by “Tashkeel”.
