Some stories are meant to be told with words; others take shape through the things we hold in our hands. The Cali-Pali Collection is the first collaborative product drop by Life & Thyme and Habibi Ceramics, a project that celebrates culture, craft, and the universal language of hospitality.

This collaboration began with a phone call with Nadia Elgan of Habibi Ceramics. We envisioned something personal and purposeful, a tangible representation of shared stories and traditions. We landed on mugs as our first collaboration piece—a choice as practical as it is symbolic. Mugs are universal; they hold moments, rituals, and the kind of warmth we all seek in our lives.

To honor this vision, we partnered with Chef Reem Assil whose work embodies storytelling, hospitality, and cultural resilience with her San Francisco restaurant, Reem’s California. Her dedication to preserving Palestinian culture, her love of sharing traditions through food, and her ability to create spaces of belonging made her the perfect collaborator. Together, with California as the shared backdrop of our home, we’ve created a collection that feels deeply personal, blending the vibrant energy of California with the rich traditions of Palestinian heritage.

Raised in Jordan after her family was displaced from Palestine, Nadia carries a deep connection to her heritage. Her passion for preserving Palestinian culture shines through in every piece she creates. In The Cali-Pali Collection, she brings to life the traditional tatreez embroidery, blending its rich history with modern design elements.

“Tatreez tells a story about the everyday life that you have and then it became more as a symbol of resistance,” Nadia explains. “It connects us to our roots and tells the stories of where we come from.”

Tatreez is a deeply rooted tradition passed down through generations of Palestinian women, a tapestry of identity, memory, and resistance. The patterns, which vary by village and region, tell stories of love, loss, land, and resilience. Historically, tatreez was sewn onto garments for weddings, celebrations, and daily wear—its symbols acting as a visual language that connected the past to the present. In the face of displacement and adversity, tatreez has become a symbol of survival, a reminder that heritage cannot be erased.

Nadia’s creative process is deeply meditative. “The clay mirrors your emotions,” she says. “You have to center yourself before you can center the piece. Once you are fully centered, then the piece can get to where you need it to go.”

Each cup is handmade with locally sourced clay with California sand, making every piece unique. The tatreez-inspired design, combined with the vibrant colors of Reem’s California, creates a collection that feels rooted in tradition yet modern. 

“Tatreez is a way of preserving lived memory—of carrying the stories of the generation before us,” Reem explains. “In the face of erasure, it is really important for us to preserve these traditions.”

Every element of tatreez carries meaning. Olive branches signify peace, while geometric patterns and floral motifs tell stories of love and connection to the land. “We are featuring the damask rose, which symbolizes love and beauty,” Reem shares. “These are the things that we want to create in the world and the things that are so beautiful about our culture that we want to share with everyone else.”

A multiple award-winning Palestinian-Syrian chef and founder of Reem’s California, Reem has made it her mission to share the warmth of Arab hospitality with the world.

“Hospitality is the root of everything we do,” Reem says. “In Arab culture, coffee is an offering—an endless gesture of infinite love. It’s how traders built trust and families welcomed guests.”

For Reem, the Cali-Pali Collection is a continuation of her mission. “These cups are invitations,” she says. “An invitation to people who might not know much about Palestinian culture. So we tried to think about what would be a design that would lure people and to ask more questions.”

The Cali-Pali Collection isn’t just a set of mugs—it’s a tribute to collaboration and sharing. It’s a reflection of Nadia Elgan’s craftsmanship and life’s work, grounded in the meditative process of working with clay. It’s a continuation of Chef Reem Assil’s mission to preserve and share the beauty of Arab hospitality and the spirit of generosity. And for me, it’s another chapter in Life & Thyme’s commitment to storytelling that goes beyond words, offering tangible connections to the people and cultures we celebrate.

Only 50 sets have been handmade in California. We hope these cups inspire you to pause, savor the moment, and reflect on the connections that shape our lives.

Order your set today.