Ever dreamt of stylishly redesigning your personal collection of the Harry Potter series in beautiful, marbled leather jackets with your name imprinted on it in fine gold lettering? Or getting a unique, custom-made book with gilded spines and decorative covers,as a gift or for personal use?

Then, head out to the 18^th edition of Sharjah Heritage Days, where Yasser Abdel Zaher is showcasing the French art of bookbinding that was introduced to Egypt more than 200 years ago.

Carrying on a family trade that began during his grandfather’s time, Yasser, who manages the Hijab Book Binding in Cairo with his siblings, is at the Heart of Sharjah where visitors can get a first-hand glimpse of the intricacies involved in the bookbinding art.

“The French art of bookbinding follows a 45-step process that begins with the folding of paper and hand sewing to the finishing touches of gilding and lettering,” explains Yasser. “The art involves three unique crafts – cutting, binding, and gilding the cover and spines with decorative elements.”

Incorporating materials such as printed fabrics, a range of 14 colour choices in goat leather, French marble paper, washi or traditional Japanese paper, vintage paper patterns, and three frame design options for the cover, visitors can have their name, initials,or preferred year, printed in English or Arabic.

Yasser offers a choice of two sizes of Arabic lettering in one font while there are three font choices for English letters.

The handbound books, priced from AED 35 to AED 75, are available in five sizes including A4 and A6. Visitors at Sharjah Heritage Days can get the ornate gold lettering and detailing done at no additional cost while custom-designed laser engraving will be charged extra.

Personal copies of your favourite books can also get an instant makeover in this artistic style of bookbinding.