It begins with a bag, not simply resting on a table, but telling a story reaching outside the Sultanate of Oman! Its leather is carefully shaped and stitched by hand, while elements inspired by Oman’s traditional safah palm leaf craft find their way into its design. On another piece, the outline of Oman appears alongside Arabic letters, turning a functional accessory into a keepsake of place and identity. Some designs even carry lines of poetry, created especially to mark Oman’s National Day.
Behind these details is Khadija Al Balushi, the Omani founder of Khiyal, a homegrown brand that is bringing together the timeless character of natural leather with contemporary design and elements of Omani heritage.
Khadija’s journey began three years ago with little more than a love for sewing, drawing and handmade crafts. Although she studied commercial law, her real creative outlet was always found in designing, stitching and making things by hand. What began as a hobby gradually evolved into a serious passion for leather craftsmanship.
“I started with a simple love for bags and handmade work,” Khadija says. “With time, passion and consistency, it developed into a project that I work on with great love.”
Today, each Khiyal bag is handmade using high-quality natural leather, including cowhide and sheepskin. From selecting the leather to cutting, stitching and finishing, much of the process is carried out by Khadija herself. A single bag can take around two weeks to complete, a reflection of the patience required when craftsmanship takes precedence over mass production.
Her approach, however is not limited to leather. Khadija has increasingly looked to Oman’s cultural heritage for inspiration, particularly the traditional palm-leaf craft. By combining leather with safah-inspire textures and forms, she creates a visual dialogue between Oman’s past and present.
Among her designs is a bag featuring a map of Oman and Arabic lettering, which has attracted particular interest from international visitors who see the pieces as distinctive souvenirs. Another collection incorporating poetry around Oman’s National Day received strong demand.
Khadija has created four designs entirely from her own concepts, while other pieces draw inspiration from international designs, which she then interprets through her own aesthetic and Omani identity.
Her journey reached an emotional milestone when she was invited by Hirfah Omaniah to represent the leather section at the “Identity and Continuity” forum. “That moment touched me deeply,” she recalls. “I felt that Khiyal had finally reached the place it belonged.”
The road has not been without challenges. Leather requires precision, time and careful sourcing, while maintaining quality can be difficult when one person handles most of the production. Yet the growing appreciation for handmade products continues to encourage her. Her dream is to initiate a factory in future supervising it itself to ensure preserving the dignity of Oman and to reach internationals by participating in international exhibitions.
Behind the scenes, Khadija also credits her husband as her greatest supporter.
For her, Khiyal is more than a brand. It is an evolving experiment in turning heritage into something people can carry, with a piece of Oman traveling wherever the bag goes.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
