Tawasol
Tawasol Egypt is a Cairo-based NGO and social enterprise founded in 2008 that sells handcrafted artisanal fashion and home decor made by community artisans in Ezbet Khairallah through Shopify e-commerce, two physical stores, and corporate gifting, with revenue reinvested into its school and community programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersCairo, Egypt
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Tawasol does
Tawasol Egypt is a Cairo-based social enterprise and NGO founded in 2008 that operates a vertically integrated community development model anchored in Ezbet Khairallah. The organization began with a school for children and has expanded into a holistic program suite covering youth education, women's handicraft vocational training, men's vocational training (woodworking, technical skills), performing arts, and a wellness club. Artisans — primarily mothers, wives, and daughters from Ezbet Khairallah — produce handcrafted goods (fashion, accessories, bags, cushions, table linens, abayas, kaftans, seasonal decor) using traditional Egyptian techniques including hand-beading, embroidery, crochet, macramé, and woodworking. Every piece is unique and handmade, with no machines or mass production.
The commercial operation comprises a Shopify-based e-commerce storefront (tawasolegypt.org) serving global customers, two physical flagship stores in Greater Cairo (the Ezbet Khairallah headquarters at 4 El Seyana Street and a Mall of Arabia location in 6 October City), a corporate gifting and CSR experiences program, and an Amazon distribution channel. Pricing is in Egyptian Pounds across a wide range (LE 400 to LE 12,000 per item). Beyond retail, Tawasol receives donations across preset tiers (LE 500 to LE 45,000) and has forged strategic partnerships with international institutions including UN Women, UNDP, World Bank, IFC, and Egyptian corporates such as National Bank of Egypt, Alex Bank, Sodic, and Sawiris Foundation and El Gouna Film Festival. Revenue from retail and corporate channels is reinvested into the school and community programs, creating a self-sustaining cycle where commerce funds education and education underwrites the artisan workforce.
Tawasol firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tawasol
- Legal name
- Tawasol Egypt
- Website
- https://tawasolegypt.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Tawasol Egypt is a Cairo-based NGO and social enterprise founded in 2008 that sells handcrafted artisanal fashion and home decor made by community artisans in Ezbet Khairallah through Shopify e-commerce, two physical stores, and corporate gifting, with revenue reinvested into its school and community programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tawasol industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Handcrafted Artisan Fashion and Home Decor
- NAICS
- Sewing, Needlework, and Piece Goods Retailers (459130), Apparel Manufacturing (315), Textile Furnishings Mills (3141)
- SIC
- Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Jewelry, Silverware & Plated Ware (3910)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Handmade/Craft Fashion Jewelry (Beaded/Wire/Woven) (CRAKABAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Needlepoint & Embroidery Shops (CRALADAE), Yarn, Knitting & Crochet Shops (CRALADAC)
Keywords
Where Tawasol is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cairo
- HQ country
- Egypt
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices2 records
Markets served
Tawasol business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Retail Sales (E-commerce + Physical Stores): Products are sold through the company's Shopify e-commerce website and two physical flagship stores. Revenue from dress, accessories, bags, and home decor categories flows back into school operations and community programs.
- Corporate Gifting: Corporate, occasional, and seasonal handcrafted gifts sold to businesses including National Bank of Egypt, El Gouna Film Festival, and Sawiris Foundation.
- Donations: Donations from individuals and organizations supporting the community programs in Ezbet Khairallah.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Fashion - Dresses |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Fashion - Bags & Clutches |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Fashion - Accessories |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Home Decor - Cushions |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Home Decor - Table & Dining |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Abayas & Kaftans (Premium) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Outerwear - Jackets & Kimonos |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Donations |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Tawasol product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tawasol is an Egyptian social enterprise that designs, handcrafts, and sells artisan fashion and home decor products through a Shopify e-commerce storefront and two physical flagship stores in Cairo. All products are handmade by local artisans in Ezbet Khairallah using traditional Egyptian techniques including hand-beading, embroidery, crochet, macrame, and woodworking. Revenue from retail sales, corporate gifting, and donations funds the Tawasol School and community development programs in Ezbet Khairallah.
Product overview
Tawasol Egypt is an e-commerce retailer of handmade artisan goods, operating as a single unified Shopify-based online store with physical flagship locations in Cairo. The product portfolio spans two main categories: Fashion (including dresses, beachwear, outerwear, handmade slippers, bags, clutches, accessories, abayas, and kaftans) and Home Decor (including cushions, table & dining items, Christmas decorations, and Ramadan decor). Products are handcrafted by artisans in Ezbet Khairallah, featuring traditional Egyptian embroidery, beading, and woodworking techniques. The business reinvests proceeds from sales into community education and development programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fashion Collection
Quantifiable outcome
- Commerce supports education, and education supports families - creating a self-sustaining cycle of community development.
Companies that use Tawasol
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Tawasol technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Tawasol partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SodiccoreReal estate company engaged in strategic partnership with Tawasol for community development initiatives in Ezbet Khairallah.
- National Bank of EgyptcoreEgypt's state-owned bank partnering with Tawasol for corporate gifting programs, sourcing handcrafted items.
- Alex BankcoreEgyptian banking institution engaged in strategic partnership with Tawasol.
- UN WomencoreUnited Nations entity focused on gender equality, partnering with Tawasol's women's empowerment programs.
- UNDPcoreUnited Nations Development Programme engaged in strategic partnership supporting community development.
- World BankcoreInternational financial institution partnering with Tawasol's community development initiatives.
- IFCcoreInternational Finance Corporation engaged in partnership supporting Tawasol's programs.
- Sawiris FoundationcoreEgyptian philanthropy foundation partnering for corporate gifting and community support.
- El Gouna Film FestivalminorFilm festival sourcing handcrafted corporate gifts from Tawasol.
- AmazonminorE-commerce platform partnership for product distribution.
- ECSDminorStrategic partner organization listed in partnership gallery.
- Design PointminorDesign-focused partner organization.
- MarkazminorCommunity development partner organization.
- MadaminorPartner organization supporting Tawasol initiatives.
- SavoyminorPartner organization in partnership gallery.
- ROSHDminorEducational development partner.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Tawasol competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Etsy: Global marketplace for handmade goods. Comparable as the dominant online channel for handmade artisan products; competes for the same international consumer searching for unique, handcrafted Egyptian-style pieces.
Direct peers
- Made Trade: Ethical and sustainable marketplace featuring handmade apparel, accessories, and home goods. Comparable in fair-trade/handmade curation and DTC positioning.
- The Citizenry: Direct-to-consumer retailer of handmade home textiles and apparel sourced from artisan partners worldwide. Comparable in handmade storytelling, premium pricing, and DTC-first distribution model.
- Soko: Tech-enabled brand selling handmade jewelry and accessories produced by artisans in emerging markets (primarily Kenya). Closely comparable in artisan-jewelry focus, online DTC model, and impact-driven brand positioning.
- Global Crafts: Fair-trade retailer of handmade artisan products from emerging-economy maker groups, including home textiles and gifts. Comparable in artisan mission, handmade assortment, and mixed wholesale/retail distribution.
- Goodee: Online marketplace for ethically sourced home goods from artisan makers around the world. Comparable in handmade home textile assortment and global artisan supply model.
- Novica: Online retailer of handcrafted artisan goods produced by artisans in developing countries. Most comparable to Tawasol in mission (artisan empowerment), product mix (apparel, home decor, jewelry), and global DTC e-commerce model.
- Ten Thousand Villages: Fair-trade retailer specializing in handmade artisan crafts from global maker groups. Comparable in social-enterprise mission, handmade artisan assortment, and combined physical retail + e-commerce distribution.
Emerging players
- Maggie's Organics: Fair-trade apparel brand working with artisan cooperatives. Comparable in mission (artisan empowerment) and apparel-focused handmade assortment, though with different product construction.
- Accompany: Curated ethical marketplace offering handmade apparel, accessories, and home goods from global artisans. Comparable in impact-led assortment and online-first distribution, though with a broader rather than single-region focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Tawasol social profiles
Digital presenceTawasol financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tawasol leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Tawasol funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tawasol M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tawasol
What does Tawasol do?
Tawasol is an Egyptian social enterprise that designs, handcrafts, and sells artisan fashion and home decor products through a Shopify e-commerce storefront and two physical flagship stores in Cairo. All products are handmade by local artisans in Ezbet Khairallah using traditional Egyptian techniques including hand-beading, embroidery, crochet, macrame, and woodworking. Revenue from retail sales, corporate gifting, and donations funds the Tawasol School and community development programs in Ezbet Khairallah.
Is Tawasol a public or private company?
Tawasol is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Tawasol founded?
Tawasol was founded in 2008.
Where is Tawasol based?
Tawasol is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, in the Africa region.
How does Tawasol make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Retail Sales (E-commerce + Physical Stores) is the primary driver. The others are corporate Gifting and donations.
Who are Tawasol's main competitors?
Etsy is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Made Trade, The Citizenry, Soko, Global Crafts, Goodee, Novica and Ten Thousand Villages. Emerging players are Maggie's Organics and Accompany.
Does Tawasol have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tawasol.
What industry is Tawasol in?
Tawasol's product category is Handcrafted Artisan Fashion and Home Decor. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAKABAD, Handmade/Craft Fashion Jewelry (Beaded/Wire/Woven), with a secondary code of CRALADAE, Needlepoint & Embroidery Shops. Its NAICS code is 459130 and its SIC code is 5600.