Louis Barthélemy is an illustrator, textile designer and artist whose work is rooted in a deep commitment to the preservation and revival of traditional crafts.

For our holiday collaboration, Louis showcased the central role that haircare has played in our daily life since antiquity with a sprawling three-part tapestry. The whimsical narrative in “Eternal Rituals” visualizes thousands of years of haircare ritual, starting with a sublime deity, whose hair flows upwards like the life-giving Nile river. Under the watchful eye of the god Horus, the flowing locks are tended to and braided by mythical Egyptian gods and goddesses, surrounded by lush flora and fauna, all with playful nods to Oribe throughout.

To further celebrate the craft, Oribe commissioned Louis to create a one-of-a-kind kilim, or a handwoven tapestry, of the artwork with a team of artisans at the Kahhal Looms located outside of Cairo.