The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

As phenomenon, online shopping in Egypt is at its most prolific right now, with more and more retailers and brands operating strictly on the world wide web, be it rough a website, a Facebook page or even an Instagram account.

But apart from independent designers and craftsman finding a free and easy platform to showcase and sell their goods, online shopping in Egypt is steering more towards websites like Tombokka, which brings together original, independently produced products of all kind – everything from home accessories, to clothes, with plenty of quirky items in between.

Tombokka’s concept extends further than that, though, and incorporates original artworks into many of its products, acting as a potentially excellent platform for emerging artists.

When it comes to artwork, the way it works is that anyone can submit a piece to the website and specify what kind of product they would like to see it on. If accepted, the piece is then made, with the artists getting a share of profits. All that’s left for you to do is pick something, add it to your basket and wait for it to be delivered.

The roster of artists whose work is present on Tombokka is impressive and you can browse and filter using the artists’ names. Some of the ones to look out for right now include Nouran Farag, whose work on the site includes Mandala-inspired patterns, as well as some particularly striking tote-bags with black and white drawings of animals on them.

Other standout pieces at the time of publishing include ones with the work of popular comic artist, Ahmed Abdel Hamid of TokTok fame. His collection in particular demonstrates what a good platform Tombokka can be for artists; the art donning his pieces are incredibly varied and has allowed him to showcase his work outside of the comic box.

When it comes to prices, it’s all uniform, which makes browsing the site as a shopper all the more simple. T-shirts are 180LE and hoodies are 275LE, while wall-clocks go for 150LE, laptops sleeves sell for 200LE, mobile phone covers are between 120LE and 150LE and tote-bags are 150LE.

While some have pointed out that some of the items are a bit deer when it comes to prices and maybe that’s true – but what you’re getting is a unique item from what is a unique and growing platform.