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Power of Color!: Inside Cairo's Traditional Dye Workshop

Published January 27th, 2020 - 07:32 GMT

In Cairo's centuries-old Darb al-Ahmar district Salama Mahmoud Salama's traditional dye workshop is a multi-colored 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 color baths.

They have no gloves or masks to protect them from the dyes and fumes.

"We start by leveling the cotton out, then immersing it in dye and adding salt to get the color right," 83-year-old Salama says one busy morning.

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Workers dye yarns at a traditional hand-dying workshop in the Egyptian capital Cairo's centuries old district of Darb al-Ahmar on January 21, 2020. In Cairo's centuries-old Darb al-Ahmar district, Salama Mahmoud Salama's dye workshop is a multi-coloured den of textiles and busy workers colouring all kinds of fabrics. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Workers dye yarns at a traditional hand-dying workshop in the Egyptian capital Cairo's centuries old district of Darb al-Ahmar on January 21, 2020. In Cairo's centuries-old Darb al-Ahmar district, Salama Mahmoud Salama's dye workshop is a multi-coloured den of textiles and busy workers colouring all kinds of fabrics. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Salama and his relatives lay out the long, flowing threads, which will be used for everything from handmade shoes to rugs and drapes, and dip them in huge, piping-hot colour baths -- no gloves or masks protecting them from the dyes and chemical fumes. The workshop in Islamic Cairo has been going strong for over a hundred years. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Salama and his relatives lay out the long, flowing threads, which will be used for everything from handmade shoes to rugs and drapes, and dip them in huge, piping-hot colour baths -- no gloves or masks protecting them from the dyes and chemical fumes. The workshop in Islamic Cairo has been going strong for over a hundred years. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

A worker carries undyed yarns to be processed at a traditional hand-dying workshop in the Egyptian capital Cairo's centuries old district of Darb al-Ahmar on January 21, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

A worker carries undyed yarns to be processed at a traditional hand-dying workshop in the Egyptian capital Cairo's centuries old district of Darb al-Ahmar on January 21, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

The workshop in Islamic Cairo has been going strong for over a hundred years. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

The workshop in Islamic Cairo has been going strong for over a hundred years. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Workers dye yarns in a vat at a traditional hand-dying workshop in the Egyptian capital Cairo's centuries old district of Darb al-Ahmar on January 21, 2020. In Cairo's centuries-old Darb al-Ahmar district, Salama Mahmoud Salama's dye workshop is a multi-coloured den of textiles and busy workers colouring all kinds of fabrics. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Workers dye yarns in a vat at a traditional hand-dying workshop in the Egyptian capital Cairo's centuries old district of Darb al-Ahmar on January 21, 2020. In Cairo's centuries-old Darb al-Ahmar district, Salama Mahmoud Salama's dye workshop is a multi-coloured den of textiles and busy workers colouring all kinds of fabrics. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Mohamed Kamal, a 59-year-old dye worker, prepares to hang dyed yarns out to dry in the sun at a traditional hand-dying workshop in the Egyptian capital Cairo's centuries old district of Darb al-Ahmar on January 21, 2020. In Cairo's centuries-old Darb al-Ahmar district, Salama Mahmoud Salama's dye workshop is a multi-coloured den of textiles and busy workers colouring all kinds of fabrics. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Mohamed Kamal, a 59-year-old dye worker, prepares to hang dyed yarns out to dry in the sun at a traditional hand-dying workshop in the Egyptian capital Cairo's centuries old district of Darb al-Ahmar on January 21, 2020. In Cairo's centuries-old Darb al-Ahmar district, Salama Mahmoud Salama's dye workshop is a multi-coloured den of textiles and busy workers colouring all kinds of fabrics. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Salama and his relatives lay out the long, flowing threads, which will be used for everything from handmade shoes to rugs and drapes, and dip them in huge, piping-hot colour baths -- no gloves or masks protecting them from the dyes and chemical fumes. The workshop in Islamic Cairo has been going strong for over a hundred years. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Salama and his relatives lay out the long, flowing threads, which will be used for everything from handmade shoes to rugs and drapes, and dip them in huge, piping-hot colour baths -- no gloves or masks protecting them from the dyes and chemical fumes. The workshop in Islamic Cairo has been going strong for over a hundred years. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Mohamed Kamal, a 59-year-old dye worker, hangs dyed yarns out to dry in the sun at a traditional hand-dying workshop in the Egyptian capital Cairo's centuries old district of Darb al-Ahmar on January 21, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Mohamed Kamal, a 59-year-old dye worker, hangs dyed yarns out to dry in the sun at a traditional hand-dying workshop in the Egyptian capital Cairo's centuries old district of Darb al-Ahmar on January 21, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Salama and his relatives lay out the long, flowing threads, which will be used for everything from handmade shoes to rugs and drapes, and dip them in huge, piping-hot colour baths -- no gloves or masks protecting them from the dyes and chemical fumes. The workshop in Islamic Cairo has been going strong for over a hundred years. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Salama and his relatives lay out the long, flowing threads, which will be used for everything from handmade shoes to rugs and drapes, and dip them in huge, piping-hot colour baths -- no gloves or masks protecting them from the dyes and chemical fumes. The workshop in Islamic Cairo has been going strong for over a hundred years. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Workers dye yarns at a traditional hand-dying workshop in the Egyptian capital Cairo's centuries old district of Darb al-Ahmar on January 21, 2020. In Cairo's centuries-old Darb al-Ahmar district, Salama Mahmoud Salama's dye workshop is a multi-coloured den of textiles and busy workers colouring all kinds of fabrics. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Salama and his relatives lay out the long, flowing threads, which will be used for everything from handmade shoes to rugs and drapes, and dip them in huge, piping-hot colour baths -- no gloves or masks protecting them from the dyes and chemical fumes. The workshop in Islamic Cairo has been going strong for over a hundred years. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
A worker carries undyed yarns to be processed at a traditional hand-dying workshop in the Egyptian capital Cairo's centuries old district of Darb al-Ahmar on January 21, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
The workshop in Islamic Cairo has been going strong for over a hundred years. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Workers dye yarns in a vat at a traditional hand-dying workshop in the Egyptian capital Cairo's centuries old district of Darb al-Ahmar on January 21, 2020. In Cairo's centuries-old Darb al-Ahmar district, Salama Mahmoud Salama's dye workshop is a multi-coloured den of textiles and busy workers colouring all kinds of fabrics. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Mohamed Kamal, a 59-year-old dye worker, prepares to hang dyed yarns out to dry in the sun at a traditional hand-dying workshop in the Egyptian capital Cairo's centuries old district of Darb al-Ahmar on January 21, 2020. In Cairo's centuries-old Darb al-Ahmar district, Salama Mahmoud Salama's dye workshop is a multi-coloured den of textiles and busy workers colouring all kinds of fabrics. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Salama and his relatives lay out the long, flowing threads, which will be used for everything from handmade shoes to rugs and drapes, and dip them in huge, piping-hot colour baths -- no gloves or masks protecting them from the dyes and chemical fumes. The workshop in Islamic Cairo has been going strong for over a hundred years. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Mohamed Kamal, a 59-year-old dye worker, hangs dyed yarns out to dry in the sun at a traditional hand-dying workshop in the Egyptian capital Cairo's centuries old district of Darb al-Ahmar on January 21, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Salama and his relatives lay out the long, flowing threads, which will be used for everything from handmade shoes to rugs and drapes, and dip them in huge, piping-hot colour baths -- no gloves or masks protecting them from the dyes and chemical fumes. The workshop in Islamic Cairo has been going strong for over a hundred years. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Workers dye yarns at a traditional hand-dying workshop in the Egyptian capital Cairo's centuries old district of Darb al-Ahmar on January 21, 2020. In Cairo's centuries-old Darb al-Ahmar district, Salama Mahmoud Salama's dye workshop is a multi-coloured den of textiles and busy workers colouring all kinds of fabrics. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Workers dye yarns at a traditional hand-dying workshop in the Egyptian capital Cairo's centuries old district of Darb al-Ahmar on January 21, 2020. In Cairo's centuries-old Darb al-Ahmar district, Salama Mahmoud Salama's dye workshop is a multi-coloured den of textiles and busy workers colouring all kinds of fabrics. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Salama and his relatives lay out the long, flowing threads, which will be used for everything from handmade shoes to rugs and drapes, and dip them in huge, piping-hot colour baths -- no gloves or masks protecting them from the dyes and chemical fumes. The workshop in Islamic Cairo has been going strong for over a hundred years. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Salama and his relatives lay out the long, flowing threads, which will be used for everything from handmade shoes to rugs and drapes, and dip them in huge, piping-hot colour baths -- no gloves or masks protecting them from the dyes and chemical fumes. The workshop in Islamic Cairo has been going strong for over a hundred years. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
A worker carries undyed yarns to be processed at a traditional hand-dying workshop in the Egyptian capital Cairo's centuries old district of Darb al-Ahmar on January 21, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
A worker carries undyed yarns to be processed at a traditional hand-dying workshop in the Egyptian capital Cairo's centuries old district of Darb al-Ahmar on January 21, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
The workshop in Islamic Cairo has been going strong for over a hundred years. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
The workshop in Islamic Cairo has been going strong for over a hundred years. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Workers dye yarns in a vat at a traditional hand-dying workshop in the Egyptian capital Cairo's centuries old district of Darb al-Ahmar on January 21, 2020. In Cairo's centuries-old Darb al-Ahmar district, Salama Mahmoud Salama's dye workshop is a multi-coloured den of textiles and busy workers colouring all kinds of fabrics. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Workers dye yarns in a vat at a traditional hand-dying workshop in the Egyptian capital Cairo's centuries old district of Darb al-Ahmar on January 21, 2020. In Cairo's centuries-old Darb al-Ahmar district, Salama Mahmoud Salama's dye workshop is a multi-coloured den of textiles and busy workers colouring all kinds of fabrics. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Mohamed Kamal, a 59-year-old dye worker, prepares to hang dyed yarns out to dry in the sun at a traditional hand-dying workshop in the Egyptian capital Cairo's centuries old district of Darb al-Ahmar on January 21, 2020. In Cairo's centuries-old Darb al-Ahmar district, Salama Mahmoud Salama's dye workshop is a multi-coloured den of textiles and busy workers colouring all kinds of fabrics. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Mohamed Kamal, a 59-year-old dye worker, prepares to hang dyed yarns out to dry in the sun at a traditional hand-dying workshop in the Egyptian capital Cairo's centuries old district of Darb al-Ahmar on January 21, 2020. In Cairo's centuries-old Darb al-Ahmar district, Salama Mahmoud Salama's dye workshop is a multi-coloured den of textiles and busy workers colouring all kinds of fabrics. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Salama and his relatives lay out the long, flowing threads, which will be used for everything from handmade shoes to rugs and drapes, and dip them in huge, piping-hot colour baths -- no gloves or masks protecting them from the dyes and chemical fumes. The workshop in Islamic Cairo has been going strong for over a hundred years. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Salama and his relatives lay out the long, flowing threads, which will be used for everything from handmade shoes to rugs and drapes, and dip them in huge, piping-hot colour baths -- no gloves or masks protecting them from the dyes and chemical fumes. The workshop in Islamic Cairo has been going strong for over a hundred years. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Mohamed Kamal, a 59-year-old dye worker, hangs dyed yarns out to dry in the sun at a traditional hand-dying workshop in the Egyptian capital Cairo's centuries old district of Darb al-Ahmar on January 21, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Mohamed Kamal, a 59-year-old dye worker, hangs dyed yarns out to dry in the sun at a traditional hand-dying workshop in the Egyptian capital Cairo's centuries old district of Darb al-Ahmar on January 21, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Salama and his relatives lay out the long, flowing threads, which will be used for everything from handmade shoes to rugs and drapes, and dip them in huge, piping-hot colour baths -- no gloves or masks protecting them from the dyes and chemical fumes. The workshop in Islamic Cairo has been going strong for over a hundred years. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Salama and his relatives lay out the long, flowing threads, which will be used for everything from handmade shoes to rugs and drapes, and dip them in huge, piping-hot colour baths -- no gloves or masks protecting them from the dyes and chemical fumes. The workshop in Islamic Cairo has been going strong for over a hundred years. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

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