Dye workshop a colourful dip into old Cairo craft

Rise in dye prices globally has taken a toll on the niche industry

Published: January 26, 2020 14:28 Compiled by Layelle Saad

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In Cairo’s centuries-old Darb al-Ahmar district, Salama Mahmoud Salama’s traditional dye workshop is a multi-coloured hive of workers busy with all kinds of fabrics. They lay out the long, flowing threads, to be used for everything from handmade shoes to rugs and drapes, and dip them in large, hot colour baths. Image Credit: AFP

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They have no gloves or masks to protect them from the dyes and fumes. “We start by levelling the cotton out, then immersing it in dye and adding salt to get the colour right,” 83-year-old Salama says one busy morning. Image Credit: AFP

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The workshop in Islamic Cairo has been going strong for almost 120 years. “We rinse the wet threads before flattening them out in an electric presser and then leave them out to dry,” he adds. Image Credit: AFP

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Of the 23 historic dye workshops that used to service the city, only a handful remain. While industrial dye factories usually work with at least of a tonne of yarn at a time, Salama says he can colour as little as half a kilogramme (just over a pound). Image Credit: AFP

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His loyal clients come from all over Egypt, and even from Sudan and the United States. But he says competition from foreign products has hurt the homegrown textile industry. Image Credit: AFP

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To stay competitive, Salama has started using firewood instead of fuel to heat the baths. Image Credit: AFP

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Still, he is optimistic about the future of his craft. “As long as people need clothes, this job will never die,” he says with a glint in his eye. Image Credit: AFP

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