Local Industries was founded in 2011 by Palestinian architects Elias and Yousef Anastas as a means to insert local know-how and craftsmanship into their work, the goal of which is to produce highly functional furniture crafted entirely by local makers that could be incorporated into their architectural projects. This endeavour aims to reassert the presence and value of Palestinian workmanship without freezing it in traditional and obsolete roles or by imposing alien standards to its methods.
By working with specific Palestinian artisans: the conception and production of furniture happens through a constant back-and-forth between all parties. The available manufacturing capabilities inform the designs, and in turn, each iteration evolves the production mechanisms, resulting in an adaptive feedback loop. Local Industries aspires to invigorate stagnated local manufacturing capabilities, all the while offering types of furniture embodying a longstanding history of quality that responds to the world today.