On our way from Ramallah to or back from Nablus, we noticed a shop that has many straw baskets on display. Out of curiosity, we decided to stop by the shop and ended up meeting the owners of the Huwwara Cultural Shop. They told us that the basketry products displayed in the shop are made by women associations in Jama’in and Bathan. The straw basketries are simple but original and every Palestinian home has one either for kitchen use or as decoration. The work of the women associations is meticulous and time consuming. They usually produce these products from home and rely on shops such as Huwwara to market their products. The shop owner explained how they try to pay these women well for their work because if they weren’t, the shop would also be losing, so it is a win-win situation.
He then took us across the street to another shop that serves as an extension of the basketry shop and where an antiques and souvenirs shop used to operate. He explained that due to the political situation and the lack of tourism in this area, the shop had to close its doors and now only opens for clients who know the place and arrange a visit beforehand. This shop has traditional farming tools and equipment on display and is full of cultural items such as jewellery, pottery, and ceramics. Next time you’re travelling on the Ramallah-Nablus Road, make sure to stop at the Huwwara Cultural Shop.