Today we’d like to introduce you to Alia Mahmoud.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Alia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there
I am a born and bred New Yorker but I’ve spent my whole life straddling two cultures. My father is Tunisian and my sister and I were raised speaking Arabic and spending summers in the south of the country with my very large extended family. I’ve always been an admirer of Tunisian craftsmanship and over the years became expert at hand-selecting my favorite pieces to bring home as gifts for friends and family in the states. When I moved to Tunisia at the age of 25 to live and work there following the Arab Spring, I relished in the opportunity to learn more about all aspects of my heritage. One product, in particular, the Fouta, was my absolute favorite thing to use daily and to offer as gifts. The Fouta is equal parts beautiful as it is functional – I use mine as a beach towel, a sarong, a scarf, a throw on my couch, a towel at the gym, a blanket on the plane and the list goes on.
After five years in Tunis, I decided to settle in Miami to be closer to my family in NYC and because the thought of returning to a cold climate was too unbearable. So when my best friend Lamia, also Tunisian-American, reached out to me from her home in Brazil to start our own Fouta company, it was a no-brainer. One year later, we are fully launched as an e-commerce business, selling our carefully designed Foutas worldwide from our bases in São Paulo and Miami.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being a global company has its benefits and its challenges. I am based in Miami and Lamia in Sao Paolo. We design in Brazil, manufacture in Tunisia, import to both countries, and ship worldwide. We are still learning to navigate all of the complexities of importing, customs, and taxes which can come with unexpected costs for a small startup. Besides, we are passionate about sustainable sourcing and are constantly working to improve our supply chain by identifying the best quality raw materials. It’s not always the most transparent process but we are learning so much about the textile industry and how to be true to our ethical brand.
Please tell us about your business.
Foutas originated (and are still used) as hammam towels for men and women in Tunisia. They’re a cultural staple in many Mediterranean households—used at the beach, as bath towels, blanketing couches, tables, and beds. At Fouta Harissa, we carefully design limited collections of high-quality, hand-loomed textiles that preserve artisanal weaving in Tunisia and celebrate the soul of Brazilian beach culture. They fold up effortlessly, dry quickly, and are beautiful and endlessly useful.
Traditionally hand-woven in Tunisia by skilled artisans, foutas are falling victim to mass-produced, low-quality trends. We started Fouta Harissa to find a way to offer handmade, quality Foutas that would keep the rich weaving history of our home country alive while infusing modern design into a traditional product. What sets us apart is our unique aesthetic, global scope, and commitment to sustainability. The result is beautiful and functional pieces for the beach, travel, and home.
Our new collection, Echo the Deco, is inspired by our very own Magic City – its unique art deco architecture, its sharp lines, and vibrant colors. We can’t resist a city with rich beach culture and this shows in each weave and thread of this collection, an ode to blue skies, turquoise waters, pink sunsets, yellow sunshine, and red hot heat.
No matter where you live, we want everyone in the world to have a unique fouta that they love and use daily while staying true to our roots and representing Tunisia abroad. We invite everyone to join the #foutalife.
Pricing:
- Our standard cotton fouta is $79
Contact Info:
- Website: www.foutaharissa.com
- Email: hello@foutaharissa.com
- Instagram: @foutharissa
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoutaHarissa/
- Other: https://culturecrusaders.com/2019/08/28/tunisian-textile-brand-fouta-harissa-launches-in-south-florida/
Image Credit:
For the three photos of the weavers at the workshop: photo credit Gleeson Paulino. For the two photos of the lovely models on the beach in Miami: photo credit: Passion Ward
Suggest a story: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
