tel-aviv based creator daniel elkayam teamed up a shepherd and cheesemaker from ein karem in jerusalem to create a collection of goat’s cheeses with traditional yemenite embroidery patterns. the shared work, called ‘tatriz el-habib’, was created during jerusalem design week as part of ‘the matchmaker’ project, in which contemporary designers are paired with craftspeople. the aim is to form connections between people and create a new product using the craftsperson’s technique and story, but tweaking, bending and stretching it to a new extent.

tatriz el halib by daniel elkayam combines traditional yemenite embroidery patterns with handmade goat cheese making 1

the milk embroidery goat’s cheese collection

image by oded antman

 

 

the focus of this year’s matchmaker project is food, and the brief for the designers was to tell the story of food makers through design. after being matched with shepherd and cheesemaker efrat giat, elkayam spent time in the yemenite valley in ein karem, where the giat family’s goat farm is located. during this time, they took the goats out to pasture, milked them, made cheese, and, most importantly, absorbed the shared experience.

tatriz el halib by daniel elkayam combines traditional yemenite embroidery patterns with handmade goat cheese making 2

spice packaging paper patterns

image by oded antman

 

 

from this shared experience, the designer learned about the giat family, whose origins are in yemen. there, the family business was based on small handmade factory for jewish traditional embroidery. after immigrating to israel, they settled in ein karem and raised goats for a living. today, efrat raises a herd of 11 goats, produces cheese, and makes jam from the surrounding mountain fruits. in addition, she conducts workshops revealing her unique way of life.

tatriz el halib by daniel elkayam combines traditional yemenite embroidery patterns with handmade goat cheese making 3

traditional handmade yemenite weaved basket for cheese making

image by oded antman

 

 

along with the wish to preserve the authenticity and simplicity of efrat’s products arose the desire to distinguish them and create a series of signature cheeses representing the local terroir in two ways. firstly, through connection to the ein karem creative environment as well as local raw materials. secondly, through connection to yemenite roots and tradition – mainly the yemenite embroidery that the giat family dealt in.

tatriz el halib by daniel elkayam combines traditional yemenite embroidery patterns with handmade goat cheese making 4

3D printed cheese mold with yemenite patterns

image by oded antman

 

 

tatriz el-halib, which means ‘milk embroidery’ in yemenite, presents a material and cultural encounter between traditional cheesemaking and the personal story of the giat family. the cheeses form a hybrid of ‘rooted’ and ‘local’ – combining, on the one hand, local raw materials such as fruit preserves and herbs, and on the other hand, yemenite archetypes and traditional samples of yemenite embroidery assimilated in the design.

tatriz el halib by daniel elkayam combines traditional yemenite embroidery patterns with handmade goat cheese making 5

embroidery plates

image by oded antman

tatriz el halib by daniel elkayam combines traditional yemenite embroidery patterns with handmade goat cheese making 6

goat’s cheese as a jam container

image by oded antman

tatriz el halib by daniel elkayam combines traditional yemenite embroidery patterns with handmade goat cheese making 7

cheese embroidery covered with pomegranate jam

image by oded antman

tatriz el halib by daniel elkayam combines traditional yemenite embroidery patterns with handmade goat cheese making 8

still life – goat’s cheese

image by oded antman

tatriz el halib by daniel elkayam combines traditional yemenite embroidery patterns with handmade goat cheese making 11

the milk embroidery

image by dan peretz

tatriz el halib by daniel elkayam combines traditional yemenite embroidery patterns with handmade goat cheese making 10

cheese molds and the original embroidery of giat’s family

image by keren rosenberg

tatriz el halib by daniel elkayam combines traditional yemenite embroidery patterns with handmade goat cheese making 9

giat’s family photos

image by keren rosenberg

tatriz el halib by daniel elkayam combines traditional yemenite embroidery patterns with handmade goat cheese making 12

efrat giat and daniel elkayam

image by keren rosenberg

 

 

project info:

 

name: tatriz el-halib

event: jerusalem design week 2021

designer: daniel elkayam

photograhy: oded antman, keren rosenberg

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: lynne myers | designboom