Egyptian luxury rug house Kahhal 1871, founded in 1871 and now led by the fifth generation of the El Kahhal family, is stepping further into the contemporary design conversation with a new collaboration alongside internationally renowned artist and designer Alex Proba. First unveiled during the fifth edition of the Cairo International Art District, the project translates monumental stone sculpture into hand knotted textile works.
Known for treating rugs as architectural surfaces rather than purely decorative objects, Kahhal 1871 continues to expand its design language through cross disciplinary collaborations. Alongside the New York based artist, whose sculptural work explores color, texture, and organic form, the brand reimagines how material and scale can shift meaning. The result is a collection that transforms the visual weight of stone into tactile pieces shaped by centuries old craftsmanship.
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The collaboration draws from Proba’s recent sculptural work with natural stone presented at Art D’Egypt’s Forever Is Now 5, where geological materials inspired reflections on time, erosion, and the layered processes that shape landscapes and cultures. Through Kahhal 1871’s hand knotted techniques, these ideas are translated into textile form, where variations in pile height, knot density, and fiber composition recreate the depth of carved stone while introducing softness and movement.
“This collection grew out of my natural stone sculptures with SolidNature for Art D’Egypt’s Forever Is Now 5,” said Proba in a released statement. “Working with natural stones made me think deeply about time, erosion, and the layers that shape both landscapes and cultures. The rugs carry that same spirit. They translate monumentality into something tactile, bringing the memory of stone, color, and history into everyday interiors.”
Echoing his statement, Mohamed El Kahha added: “At Kahhal 1871 we see rugs as architectural surfaces rather than purely decorative objects. Working with Alex allowed us to explore how sculptural ideas can move between materials, translating the weight and presence of stone into something tactile while preserving the character of the original forms.”
More than a translation of form, the collaboration reflects Kahhal 1871’s evolving approach to design, where heritage craftsmanship meets contemporary artistic practice. In this transition, monumentality becomes intimate, and sculpture becomes something designed to be lived with rather than observed from afar.
The Alex Proba x Kahhal 1871 collection launched on March 29 and is now available at Kahhal 1871 showrooms in Cairo as well as online.
