(The Paint Room at Malaika Linens)
Do you ever find that you feel better spending money if you know you are supporting a good cause? And maybe it is just me, but I genuinely enjoy “supporting the economy” when I can actually meet the people behind the scenes making and producing the product. The icing on the cake? If the whole experience is somehow “adventurous,” involving new people, places, and the promise of something delightfully unique just around the corner.
(Piecework at Malaika Linens)
Well, friends, if you can relate to any of the above, then today’s outing will be perfect for you – a tour of Malaika Linens.
A friend of mine was looking to refresh her linen closet with something produced locally and suggested we visit the corporate headquarters of Malaika Linen in 6th October City. Established in 2004 to provide training and employment for local women, Malaika Linens has developed into Egypt’s premier luxury linen outlet.
(Intricate designs at Malaika Linen)
To be honest, my interest was immediately piqued because of the name – Malaika. In Arabic, malaika means “angel,” but my experience with the name came some years before I learned Arabic. I took Swahili in college and I was given the name Malaika to use in class. Now, I learned years ago that using a local name when traveling or living abroad gains you a lot of street cred, but it wasn’t until I actually traveled to East Africa the summer after graduation that I realized the degree of attention that the name Malaika generates. Not only does it mean “angel” in Swahili, it is also the title and subject of a popular folk song that literally everyone sang to me the moment I told them my name was Malaika. Once I realized the degree of superstardom the name Malaika gave me, well, there was no going back.
(The ladies of Malaika Linens)
But I digress. Once I discovered there was a linen company called Malaika I knew I just had to take a tour, and you know what? It rang all my bells – altruism, consumer education, and adventure. You will want to visit as well, so read on for information on reservations, transportation, and the tour itself.
(Silk screening at Malaika Linens)
Reservations: Making a reservation to tour the corporate facility in 6th October City is simple. Send a direct message via the company Facebook page to schedule a visit.
Transportation: The Malaika Linens corporate office and factory is located on the 6th October/Wadi al-Natron road. Believe it or not, my friends rented a bus and I traveled out there in air-conditioned comfort. You could also easily go by private car or Uber. Lest you think I’ve gone soft, I would be happy to go by minibus. If you want to try it, let me know and we’ll figure it out together.
The tour: Unsurprisingly, I brought my kids, and I am happy to report that they enjoyed themselves. The tour itself took about an hour. You get to see the various workshops for embroidery, silk-screening, finishing, quality control, etc. More importantly, you meet many delightful women who are enjoying increased financial independence and self-confidence. As a side benefit, you have the option of buying gorgeous handcrafted linens at a discount over the retail prices at the Zamalek showroom.
(Touring Malaka Linens with friends)
Bottom line – there’s something very refreshing about heading out into the desert, seeing women hard at work in pursuit of their dreams, and supporting them in that goal (by treating myself to something lovely). I look forward to my next visit to Malaika Linens, and I hope to see you there!
