The Sleepy Camel Coffee Co. officially launched with a flurry of artists eager to share their ideas to celebrate the occasion. A design of a camel canvas was commissioned from UNIT, one of the incubated retailers in Soapbox, Promenade Mall, and sent out to ten local artists. On the official launch night all ten pieces were beautifully displayed with a plaque and on a specially designed stand, and without exception, every single camel had its own group of admirers.
The artists who took part were of all ages, the youngest to submit a camel canvas was eighteen year old Manar Al Tammar who jumped at the chance to take part in this exhibition. Manar says she is, “Always striving for the opportunity to express [myself] through different forms of media.”
Others took inspiration from iconic landmarks or infamous local areas like “Souq Al Manakh”. This is the case with the piece by Mishari AlNajjar whose camel looked just like the tiled wall of the landmark, notorious for the various dubious goings on that would take place there. Manakh roughly translates in this case as “sitting camel”, as the name of this souq came about because the tradesmen would come and sit their camels down in this area on their breaks.
Hasan Ali took inspiration from a woman he knows called Latifah who’s story he finds fascinating and multi-layered like the piece he produced using the images of women from the ruba, to Russian iconography. There is a rainbow of color across the camel canvas, a cell phone nurtured like a baby, with an oil-pumping mechanical donkey at one end and the flight of butterflies at the other.
Some artists painted on both sides of the camel canvas, as did artist Aisha Burhama who depicted sleepy camel coffee cups and the act of drinking coffee on the foundation of a particularly hirsute camel. This is the artist’s USP, “I am fascinated with drawing hair on everything!”
An unassumingly cute depiction of the many different characters that we encounter every day in Kuwait was illustrated perfectly by Fatima Al Othman. There’s the thick-necked gym body guy (usually seen in summer!), the designer clad thick eyebrowed fashionista, the hipster sporting a man-bun and most are on their cell phones showing off to their friends, or most likely -followers. That’s some sharp social commentary done right there, but with affection.
There is something about the camel canvases that took the artists back to subjects that they loved when they were children. So, we got space inspired mixed media pieces from Mariam Ashkanani, vast plain star lit nights from Asma Al Onaizi, and a surrealist piece that turned a mundane camel ride into a real trip that came from Zahra Al Mahdi!
Malak Al Suwaihel’s camel is particularly poignant. Taking the camel shape as an icon of the desert, overlaid is a photograph of the desert now, covered in energy towers, “the desert at present” with a near nonsensical poem printed over the image.
And last but not least, we have the representation of the camel as a completely adaptable creature with the words written into contour lines from Norah Al Jassar, “When something goes wrong in your life, yell “plot twist” and move on.”
It was certainly a plot twist in Samer Naoum’s life when he discovered how much he loved to roast his own coffee beans while he was at university. He has since founded one of the most delicious coffee brands in Kuwait, where you only ever get a great tasting brew of coffee no matter what the bean. Bushido Bandit now supplies the beans at The Sleepy Camel, and Samer spent the night behind the bar on the café’s launch night hand pouring and brewing various beans.
Sleepy Camel offers V60, Chemex Pour Over, Brewed Coffee and Cold Brew brews. Samer’s is a fascinating story, and the branding fits Samer’s character perfectly; a young man with multiple interests in which he takes part conscientiously and with dedication. Everything he does, seems to be done to the highest level of quality, because whatever it is he is doing, movement, nutrition or roasting beans, it’s his passion.
And hopefully, those of you who do visit the Sleepy Camel Coffee Co., will come to be passionate about this little oasis. The location is ideal, there’s tons of parking in Promenade Mall, Soapbox is spacious and calming with very comfortable and stylish furniture where you can sit quietly by yourself or in groups.
While you’re there, you absolutely must try the Camel Latte. It’s similar to a Spanish latte, with the sweet coffee balanced on the top, and the thickly textured camel milk sitting on the bottom. One swirl and the delicious mixture is ready to drink! It’s utterly delicious. And who knew how flavorsome different milks can be.
Sleepy Camel Coffee Co. is the one-stop coffee shop that can satisfy the taste buds for all kinds of milk lovers. You can choose between regular whole milk, lactose free cow milk, almond, coconut, and of course the famous camel milk on the menu.
As this little café develops it will be a joy to watch, as they themselves also support local entrepreneurs in supplying the café. bazaar can’t wait to see what’s next on the menu!
Sleepy Camel Coffee Co. can be found at the far end of Soapbox, Mezzanine Floor, Promenade Mall, located on 3rd Ring Road, opposite Qadsiya and can be easily accessed by road and the local public transport system. Follow @sleepycamelkw on Instagram.
All images by Muneera AlKhulaifi @i9ora for bazaar Studios.
Featured image shows Aisha Burhama (left), Samer Naoum of Bushido Bandit (center).
