GLASSWARE PAINTER

Sayed Haydar, 45, has been producing unique hand-painted glassware for the past 27 years. He owns one of the few workshops that employs women. He also employs students studying at the University of Damascus’s Faculty of Fine Arts to help produce beautiful hand-decorated tea cups and plates.

“Anyone can open a shop or a restaurant, but to be able to produce handmade quality products, something that takes time and effort, that is special,” Haydar said. “I don’t want to let go of my business. For me, my art comes before money – it’s my passion. We do not use modern machinery here, everything is done by hand. It requires skilled workers who have a lot of patience as the work is so delicate. I could get new machinery and produce hundreds of cups an hour, but then it would no longer be personal. I want to preserve tradition.”

SPOON MAKER

For 70 years Razaq Yahee has been crafting individual spoons at his small workshop. He started when he was 10, learning the trade from his father. In turn, he has taught his sons. His family takes great pride in the business. After all these years, Yahee and his family remain content with their trade.

“My father taught me and I taught my sons and hopefully they will go on to teach their sons,” Yahee said. “I still love my work after all these years.”`

NARGHILE HOSE MAKER

Mahmoud Badeer, 50, does not hold much hope for the future of his trade. He has been making leather narghile hoses for 40 years, but feels that he can no longer compete against mass-produced plastic hoses.

“In Egypt they produce lots of plastic narghile pipes, while I use natural Syrian leather,” Badeer said. “This is much better for you as the leather absorbs some of the harmful chemicals from the tobacco, whereas plastic does not. Despite this, my business will eventually die out. It’s all about machinery now. People have lost their desire to have handmade products. If my shop disappears, there will be no more leather narghile pipes left. I have been doing this since I was a child. It’s a tough job that requires skill, not just anyone can do it. Even if I did employ someone else, it would take them at least five years to learn the perfect technique. I have never smoked narghile, I don’t like it. Of course, the chef who concocts poison still has to try the poison sometimes, but it’s not for me.

KNIFE MAKER

Mohammad Sayid, 52, has been making knives since he was 10. He learnt the trade from his uncle. He can remember when there were three other shops like his making knives, but they have all shut down due to a lack of demand.

“Mine is the only shop in Damascus which makes knives like these,” Sayid said. “I have six sons but not one of them wants to carry on in the business. The work is too difficult and it takes too long to learn how to do it. These days, it seems that people would rather make money quickly than spend time learning a trade.”

SANDAL AND SHOEMAKER

Deeb Balah, also known as Abu Wissam, is 58 years old and has worked in the shoemaking business for 25 years. After losing his hearing at the age of five, Balah was sent to Lebanon by his father to learn to lip read. He learnt his trade from his father and one can still find Balah working in his father’s shop today. These days his shop in Qaymariya Street survives off the tourist trade. Balah’s five children will not take over the business.

“I love my job and I hope it will flourish again,” he said. “I guess the only way this will happen is to hope that more tourists come. I sell a pair of natural leather sandals for SYP 400 [USD 8.70]. What could be cheaper than that?”

CARPET AND KILIM REPAIRER

Mohammed al-Nakhal, 27, started learning his craft at the tender age of six when his older brother would teach him during the school holidays. Nakhal is passionate about his craft, but in order to make a living he also sells carpets and kilims. He says it is becoming increasingly difficult to source original materials to carry out repairs.

“We mainly depend on tourism to keep our business alive so a lack of tourists is a catastrophe for us,” he said. “I love the colours and designs of carpets and I love to treat them and repair them. It feels really good to rescue such beautiful objects and I am proud of what I do.”