Mishmish was founded by Laila and Moustafa - an Egyptian couple living in London. Our mission is simple: to provide a global stage for Egypt’s most exciting contemporary artists and independent makers.

With more and more time in London, we realized that while most know Egypt for its ancient history, few get to see the incredible contemporary talent emerging from it today. Cairo is replete with artists, workshops and galleries old and new. Mishmish aims to bridge that gap, by presenting the curated works of Egyptian makers in the UK.

We believe that art is deeply personal, which is why our process is hands-on. Every piece in our collection is hand-selected by us during our travels back home, chosen for its story, quality, and uniqueness. We maintain direct, and personal relationships with every maker we represent - visiting their studios to understand the specific heritage behind their craft. 

So why MishMish? In Arabic, the phrase "Fil Mishmish" (في المشمش) literally translates to "in the apricots." a popular idiom used to mean "in your dreams”. The origin of the phrase comes from the nature of the fruit's harvest, with apricots having an incredibly short ripening season (sometimes lasting only a few weeks), making it a tiny, fleeting window to get it right - much like how feel on our visits home to curate just the right selection for the season.