Madeline Weinrib's New Islamic-Inspired Collection Debuts at The Met Store
The interior designer collaborated with Middle Eastern artisans to celebrate the Islamic Wing's 10th anniversary.
Published: Nov 17, 2021
Museum shops have long been an under-the-radar spot to source unique home decor, jewelry, and books, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art Store is top-notch. For the first time, the Met has collaborated with designer Madeline Weinrib to create a shoppable capsule celebrating the Islamic Wing's 10th anniversary. Weinrib has worked with artisans across Morocco, Syria, Jordan, Pakistan, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Turkey for years on her own projects, so when she saw how affected they were by the pandemic, she dreamed up the idea of creating a special collection with them. "It is a real passion project and I couldn't get the idea out of my head, so when I was talking to Stephen Mannello at the Met, who said that he wanted to do something different with the store and that it would coincide with the 10th anniversary of the Islamic wing, we knew it needed to happen," says Weinrib. "I spent the next months photographing items in the Islamic wing, sharing them with the artisans, and going back and forth on the designs. A lot of people are struggling in these places and there is so much focus on the bad that it feels very important to also share their beauty and celebrate the makers." The capsule, titled, The Heirloom Project, is now available to shop at the Met Store, with more products expecting to arrive in the spring.
"This is a hand blown glass decanter that feels both ancient and modern," says Weinrib. "I have a lot of them from the sample process and they look so nice lined up together. I recommend people get at least two for water pitchers; they add poetry to the table."
"I love the saturated colors in this towel, which you can use as a blanket or really anything, it is multipurpose. And the tassels are so happy."
Weinrib recommends this luxurious soap from artisanal luxury brand Orient 499 out of Lebanon as a staple gift for friends (or yourself).
"You wouldn't guess how difficult it was to create these bright, joyful dishes in India," says Weinrib. "It was at the peak of Covid-19 there and yet it gave us all happiness to have something like these hand-painted plates to work on."
"Everything in the collection explores the duality of ancient and modern," says Weinrib, who sent photos of the Islamic art pieces to the artisans as inspiration for each piece.
The capsule all came together, "like a symphony," says Weinrib. More pieces will be added to the collection soon.