Traditional crafts are closely related to the ways of life and needs of a community. These are regarded as complementary to the region’s production cycle. Palestinian society is primarily an agricultural society and traditional crafts have evolved to suit and meet its needs.One of the traditional crafts is the saddlecloth and carpetbag industry. Saddlecloth is a blanket, pad or fabric inserted under a saddle and upon which a carpetbag is fixed. A carpetbag is a specific bag for carrying luggage and crops. It was traditionally used for carrying water from springs as well as other agricultural products and crops. Abu Ayed is proud of his knowledge and experience in making saddlecloth and carpetbag, which, in his opinion, requires special skills. Saddlecloth is made from burlap bags, which are stuffed with straw from wheat crops and then stitched with plastic threads and ropes, while carpetbag is made entirely from burlap bags.
The saddlecloth and carpetbag industry is one of the endangered crafts in Palestine today. Abu Ayed is one of the few who still practice this craft and striving to transfer it from one generation to the next. He felt a passion towards the craft from a young age as he spent time with his uncle who mastered it. He kept training until he himself learnt and eventually mastered the craft. Abu Ayed says that the income generated from this craft used to be enough for the family’s expenses. He used to sell 70-80 pieces of saddlecloth a year in different regions, including Deir Dibwan, Al-Jib, Nablus, Fandaqumiya, and Jericho. However, during the last five years, demand on saddlecloth products has decreased to a mere 10 pieces a year. Carpetbag sales faces a similar decline. According to Abu Ayed, the reason for such a drop in demand are several. To begin with, the change in our way of life and the introduction of modernisation plays a big role. Our need for mounts (horses, donkeys and mules) to carry water or transport goods have dwindled, and therefore the need for such items became very limited.Moreover, no attention or investment has been given to such a craft by the authorities. Decreasing number of producers and lack of young trainees and workers in this industry are the main causes for this decline in this artisanship. However, maintaining this craft is important as it still serves farmers in rugged and inaccessible areas, especially during harvest seasons such as the olive season.
Abu Ayed also makes horseshoes from iron sheets for mounts. He also fixes horseshoes. What distinguishes these horseshoes from other foreign horseshoes is their suitability for rough roads. He also makes cardans, which were used for ploughing purposes, but no longer are. Abu Ayed’s talents for crafts go beyond making saddlecloth and carpetbags, as he is a professional in building stonewalls, one of the crafts that are not practiced as much despite its importance in agriculture and its prominent and special presence in the mountainous landscape of Palestine. As a hobby, Abu Ayed decorates horses for weddings in his town, a beautiful habit that shows his love for horses and his contributions to this unique artisanship.
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Product Selling Points: On location and on an on-demand basis.