Shahira Mehrez Releases Book "Costumes of Egypt: The Lost Heritage"

Shahira Mehrez, an Islamic art expert, fashion designer and the owner of a chain store that sells artifacts inspired by Egyptian heritage, released her new book  "Costumes of Egypt: The Lost Heritage".

The book was published in collaboration with the French Institute for Eastern Archaeology, and an event was held at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization for this occasion. 

During the event, Shahira Mehrez delivered a lecture about the book.

Shahira Mehrez

"Costumes of Egypt: The Lost Legacies" is the culmination of decades of research by Shahira Mehrez. This four-volume work meticulously documents and traces the origins of previously unrecorded clothing and jewelry worn by Egyptian women, much of which has faded into history. 

In this inaugural volume, the various costumes highlight a compelling fact: regardless of geographical distances, religious and ethnic diversity, or the passage of millennia and civilizations, Nubians, Nile Valley peasants, Bedouins, oasis dwellers, Christians, and Muslims all shared a common heritage. 

Both old and new symbols merged into a single tradition, defining a diverse yet harmonious Egyptian identity.

This tradition offers irrefutable and concrete evidence of the nation's unity, demonstrating that these diverse communities have historically been integral parts of a multicultural and pluralistic nation.

Mehrez holds a master's degree in Islamic art, began collecting dresses from villages all over Egypt as a teenager, and started selling them in her apartment.

She took over the Al Arish Needlework Project in the Sinai town of El Arish, which had been started by American and Canadian Mennonites to assist local unskilled and often illiterate, Bedouin women.

Mehrez became the project’s director in 1981. Since then it has expanded to include most of the northern Sinai coastal towns and villages. In 1987 about 500 women were working within the project and by 2013 this number had increased to 1200 women and girls, who worked both from home and ateliers.

Mehrez noted the combination of women’s skills and traditions created a new form of embroidery - al-Arish needlework - which keeps local traditions and skills alive.

Shahira's achievements also included pressing olive oil from her olive trees and collecting Egyptian recipes for a book on Egyptian cooking from the different governorates and cities.

Contributed by Yara Sameh