Mai El-Darawy is developing Egypt’s lavender industry, driving exports while empowering women, students, and promoting sustainable development.
Mai El-Darawy is an Egyptian entrepreneur best known as the Founder and CEO of Lavender Life Group, the first company to introduce large-scale lavender cultivation and lavender-based products in Egypt with a distinct local identity. Established in 2022, Lavender Life Group has already positioned itself as a pioneer, producing what El-Darawy proudly calls Egypt’s new “Purple Gold.”
Lavender is a fragrant purple-flowered plant widely valued for its calming scent, essential oils, and versatile uses in food, beauty, and wellness. Its importance lies in its global demand, cultural symbolism, and economic potential as a sustainable “purple gold” for industries and exports.
El-Darawy’s journey into this field was unconventional. Trained in pharmacy and active in the medical supplies industry, she began exploring lavender after discovering its calming effects on her child. This personal encounter led her to spend four years researching the plant, its properties, and its potential applications.
By the time she launched Lavender Life Group, she had developed a clear vision to build a sustainable Egyptian brand that could stand out in both local and international markets.
El-Darawy’s company successfully cultivates Spanish, French, and Italian varieties of lavender on Egyptian soil, proving that the crop could thrive beyond its traditional European origins. From there, she expanded lavender’s role far beyond perfumes and essential oils.
Lavender Life Group has taken lavender far beyond perfumes, infusing it into food, drinks, jewellery, car air filters, and even fashion. Its standout creations are lavender-scented leather accessories such as handbags, shoes, and belts made from eco-friendly vegetable-tanned leather. Since late 2023, these products have reached Europe, the Gulf, and parts of Africa, carving a niche in competitive markets through quality and originality rather than price.
At the heart of the company is a design centre that mentors university students, bridging academia and industry while nurturing Egypt’s next generation of designers. Through her role in industry associations and women’s business networks, Mai El-Darawy also champions sustainability, local industries, and female empowerment.
Aligned with Egypt’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, Lavender Life Group blends eco-conscious production with social impact. Mai El-Darawy is proving that a distinctly Egyptian brand can thrive internationally as she balances cultural identity with global reach,
