daniel elkayam molds goat’s cheese into traditional yemenite patterns
daniel elkayam teamed up with a shepherd and cheesemaker from jerusalem to create a collection of goat's cheeses with traditional yemenite embroidery patterns.
[FEATURED]
tel-aviv based creator daniel elkayam teamed up a shepherd and cheesemaker from ein karem in jerusalem to create a collection of goat’s cheeses with traditional yemenite embroidery patterns. the shared work, called ‘tatriz el-habib’, was created during jerusalem design week as part of ‘the matchmaker’ project, in which contemporary designers are paired with craftspeople. the aim is to form connections between people and create a new product using the craftsperson’s technique and story, but tweaking, bending and stretching it to a new extent.
the milk embroidery goat’s cheese collection
image by oded antman
the focus of this year’s matchmaker project is food, and the brief for the designers was to tell the story of food makers through design. after being matched with shepherd and cheesemaker efrat giat, elkayam spent time in the yemenite valley in ein karem, where the giat family’s goat farm is located. during this time, they took the goats out to pasture, milked them, made cheese, and, most importantly, absorbed the shared experience.
spice packaging paper patterns
image by oded antman
from this shared experience, the designer learned about the giat family, whose origins are in yemen. there, the family business was based on small handmade factory for jewish traditional embroidery. after immigrating to israel, they settled in ein karem and raised goats for a living. today, efrat raises a herd of 11 goats, produces cheese, and makes jam from the surrounding mountain fruits. in addition, she conducts workshops revealing her unique way of life.
traditional handmade yemenite weaved basket for cheese making
image by oded antman
along with the wish to preserve the authenticity and simplicity of efrat’s products arose the desire to distinguish them and create a series of signature cheeses representing the local terroir in two ways. firstly, through connection to the ein karem creative environment as well as local raw materials. secondly, through connection to yemenite roots and tradition – mainly the yemenite embroidery that the giat family dealt in.
3D printed cheese mold with yemenite patterns
image by oded antman
tatriz el-halib, which means ‘milk embroidery’ in yemenite, presents a material and cultural encounter between traditional cheesemaking and the personal story of the giat family. the cheeses form a hybrid of ‘rooted’ and ‘local’ – combining, on the one hand, local raw materials such as fruit preserves and herbs, and on the other hand, yemenite archetypes and traditional samples of yemenite embroidery assimilated in the design.
embroidery plates
image by oded antman
goat’s cheese as a jam container
image by oded antman
cheese embroidery covered with pomegranate jam
image by oded antman
still life – goat’s cheese
image by oded antman
the milk embroidery
image by dan peretz
cheese molds and the original embroidery of giat’s family
image by keren rosenberg
giat’s family photos
image by keren rosenberg
efrat giat and daniel elkayam
image by keren rosenberg
project info:
name: tatriz el-halib
event: jerusalem design week 2021
designer: daniel elkayam
photograhy: oded antman, keren rosenberg
designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
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