Handcrafted GEM Goods: A Korean CEO Brings Egyptian Artisans to the Fore
Creatrip Team
6 months ago
Kwon Jae-young, a Korean woman leading the official gift shop at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Cairo, oversees daily production and sales of museum merchandise that draws about 18,000 visitors a day. After winning a competitive bid against teams including the Louvre’s merchandise group, she emphasized “100% Made in Egypt” products by collaborating with roughly 120 local artisans. With a background in finance and data-driven strategy, Kwon analyzed tourist purchasing patterns and chose which items to produce in-house (e.g., scarves, hats, fans) versus contract-made pieces (e.g., some jewelry). Signature lines include the Tutankhamun collection, the Golden Fly series inspired by ancient military honors, and a popular baboon (baboon·개코원숭이) collection. Kwon aims to return revenue and skills to Egyptian craftsmen by ensuring fair pay, improving work conditions, and supporting craft transmission so traditional techniques survive while the shop targets roughly $5–6 revenue per visitor.
