Facts about Souk of Al Khayamiya

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tentmakers market cairo | shopping in cairo

Facts about Souk of Al Khayamiya

05 16, 2023

Souk Al Khayamiya | Tentmakers Bazaar

The ancient khayamiya market is located across the street from Bab Zuwayla in Cairo, just steps away from the Under the Quarter area, which is located along Al-Moez Street and at the end of Ghoriya Street.

The name Khayamiya comes from its maker, the khayami, who used to make tents, whether by sewing them or decorating them, and the textile pieces that are woven in certain shapes and sewn with fabrics often express the spirit of the folk artist and his inherited heritage.

Thus, the market was named after the craftsmen who lived in it, who relied on manual methods to make tents and colorful fabrics of all kinds, which still play prominent roles in the life of Egyptian society, where they are used in clothing, bags, funeral and mourning marquees, wedding fabrics, pillows, bedspreads, handmade carpets (kilims), art paintings, shrine coverings, as well as the clothes of dervishes and tanoura dancers.

The tent is one of the first crafts that man learned and practiced from earlier times, especially when he started moving from one place to another, and for this he needed the tent as a place to shelter and protect him from the elements.

The tent in Arab history has many stories, as this craft took its value from the day the Arabs set up tents and took care of their appearance as a dwelling and home, because it was very suitable for the nature of their life, which depended on nomadic travel and movement in search of water and pasture resources.

Each Arab was keen to make his tent different from other tents, through drawings, shapes and woven colors, and for many Arabs, the tent still has its historical flavor.

Over time, the craft of khayamiya evolved from simply making a shelter for humans, as it was initially colored fabrics in one color or a few colors, and then the aesthetic dimension was added to it, and it became dependent on artistic taste more than being a craft, and then began to introduce Arabic drawings, decorations and writings that gave the design a special spirit and taste.

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Take your time to wander through the market's narrow alleys and soak in the vibrant atmosphere. The market is filled with shops and stalls showcasing beautiful textiles, wall hangings, cushion covers, and other decorative items.

The Souk of Al Khayamiya is situated in the heart of Old Cairo, near the historic district of Islamic Cairo. It is specifically located in the area known as Bab Zuweila, one of the old gates of the city.

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