A bloom in the desert

A bloom in the desert

Tel Sheva, Israel
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Mariam Aborkeek creates beauty from the dusty landscape of Israel’s Negev desert. She is a Bedouin woman who in 2005 founded the cosmetics range "Desert Daughter" – a line of products based on traditional recipes and made with natural ingredients. Her business stands out in Israel, where poverty and lack of education are problems in the Bedouin community, and authorities estimate 81 percent of working-age Bedouin women are unemployed.

. TEL SHEVA, Israel. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

Mariam Aborkeek pours a concoction of olive oil and plants over her "Desert Daughter" soap, adding the final touch to her product. Her cosmetics are made with natural ingredients like desert melon, cumin and bitter apple, and the herbs she uses are mostly locally sourced from her Bedouin village of Tel Sheva.

Aborkeek, who studied in London before returning to Israel and starting her beauty range, thinks it is important to promote local products. “I'm proud to bring all these herbs back to the spotlight,” she said. “We also should bring the Bedouin cultural heritage back to the world.”

Coming from a society where women were historically only involved in childcare and teaching, Aborkeek had to overcome many obstacles to set up her business.

But she persisted and she now employs a small team of women to help make and sell her products. “People said it would be difficult for me as a woman, (they said) how will you manage alone? You're a woman, you don't have money, you don't have power. But all the time I had this dream,” she said.

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Aborkeek carries a basket full of dried plants, used to make her "Desert Daughter" products.
. TEL SHEVA, Israel. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

Aborkeek carries a basket full of dried plants, used to make her "Desert Daughter" products.

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