The last traditional dyehouse in Cairo

Established in 1901, this dyehouse in Cairo's El Darb El Ahmar district still dyes its yarns by hand in the traditional way, in an atmosphere that seems to have remained unchanged since.  Before becoming the owner in 1975, Salama started working here when he was 17. Although he could not read or write, over the years he became an expert in the techniques of dyeing different materials (cotton, silk, wool, nylon). Although the small company has seen a clear drop in orders for some time due to the modernisation of techniques, there are still customers who prefer the knowledge and expertise of Salama, which continues to export internationally.

Curated by

Elie Flora@flora-elie

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