Today we’d like to introduce you to Mahmoud Khsayem.
Hi Mahmoud, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in Aleppo, Syria, one of the oldest cities in the world. I had a childhood surrounded by history – I played among Roman ruins, and my father opened a rug shop in an ancient castle. I come from a weaving family – my ancestors began weaving rugs and textiles over 400 years ago. During the Syrian Civil War, I moved to Dubai. I lived there and had a rug store until I moved to Houston in 2023.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My struggles began as a teenager when my beloved country of Syria was devastated by war. I fled the violence and moved to Dubai, UAE, where I spent 7 years tied to one rug shop, even sleeping in the store every night on a pad on the floor. These years taught me perseverance and inspired me to learn English and open my own business. In March 2019, I had a kiosk in a mall where I met my wife when she was a tourist in Dubai. By December 2019, we were married and opened a large permanent store in that same mall. That store took all our blood, sweat, tears, and money. Unfortunately, COVID-19 shut down all tourism a few months later, and our business could not survive as it was. We switched gears, and instead of selling to tourists, we began focusing on local residents. We turned a portion of our store into a weaving studio, where we gave lessons to families every day. We loved doing this and became very passionate about it, and we are planning to do the same in Houston!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My family has been weaving in Aleppo, Syria, for over 400 years. They use a traditional loom with foot pedals. They make pillows, rugs, and floor poufs. My father is 74 years old and still weaves for us.
I learned to weave at a young age, and I began making the same kind of work that my family has always done. Recently, I’ve strayed from my family’s traditional weaving designs and have found my own style. I like to play with texture and shapes, and my work is usually very drastic and bright.
What does success mean to you?
I have specific goals I would like to meet. Success to me means having an operating business that functions smoothly at a steady level but still leaves room for creativity.
Contact Info:
- Website: magic-rugs.com
- Instagram: magic_rugs
- Facebook: Facebook.com/magicrugstx
