15-year-old Hayat is a force of nature. When she sets her mind to a task, rest assured she will only stop once she accomplishes what she set out to do. The youngest in the family, Hayat’s tenacity has earned her the fond nickname of ‘the little ulcer’ by her brother Karim (he adores his baby sister, don’t worry).
When OM started working with Karim, Hayat was determined to be included in the conversation. She decided to learn English so that she could help her brother and her family. She used precious battery life to watch YouTube videos and use Google Translate to learn the language on her own. Within a month, she started making TikTok videos in English chronicling her life during the war, amassing a modest following of 5.6k. Her dark humor prevailed throughout the family's difficulties - from living in one room to being stuck inside for weeks on end.
Once the family evacuated to Cairo, she continued her English language journey with the help of her OM friends and Duolingo. Crushing every challenge, Hayat has now turned her attention to learning Python. Why? She is bored, school hasn’t started yet, and all she wants to do is learn.
To quote a rather infamous character, we’ll be watching her career with great interest, knowing she will be the best at whatever she tackles.
For those unfamiliar, tatreez is a vital piece of Palestinian culture. Historically, tatreez was used to decorate thobes (a traditional Palestinian dress). Each pattern told part of the wearer’s connections to the land, coming together to tell a story of identity. Today, tatreez is used to decorate household items and clothing.
Hayat’s name means “life,” and we can’t think of a more appropriate design than the Shajarat al Hayat, or “tree of life.” This design tells Hayat’s story - at least the first 15 years of it, with ample room to grow as her life story unfolds. Using resources like Tirazain and Tatreez & Tea, our artist adapted traditional patterns to create this unique design for our youngest Pal.
Look for a new blog post in the coming weeks to learn more about the individual patterns, why they were chosen, and how the final design came together. In the meantime, shop the latest design in the Hayat Collection!
One of Hayat’s very first TikTok videos was a tutorial on how to make tea. With her older sister Nada helping record, Hayat walks viewers through her process of brewing black tea using a gas tank.
Hayat's tutorial on how to make tea
Our OM artist's journey with this design began when they were introduced to Hayat and her captivating tea-making video. This encounter sparked a creative process that led to the birth of this unique piece.
A traditional Western teapot, decorated proudly with a Palestine-shaped watermelon and olive leaf lid, sits on a table alongside a brilliant red Palestinian poppy (one of their national flowers) and a teacup. The metal handle, representing the treasured Palestinian keys, along with subtle nods to the colors of the Palestinian flag, round out the intentionality of place within the design. It is a simple design with a strong message: no matter who comes, Palestine will always be.