Iqal … Heritage Profession Struggles for Survival

DAMASCUS, (ST) – (Iqal is a headband made of strong thick strings).  Iqal industry is a traditional one. It is threatened with extinction due to a drop in the number of workers in this field and because the limited number of families who hand it down from generation to generation. This industry has become known as the profession of parents and grandparents.

Ahmed Ramadan, 62 years, one of the prominent makers of Iqal at al Borghleyeh market in old Damascus said that this profession requires only simple tools including thread, a manual machine, wooden mould and a hammer.  He pointed out that the profession is more than 200 years old and it is inherited from his ancestors and he tries to pass it on to his sons after him to keep it from extinction.

Khaled Abu Badr, 45 years, has a long tradition in this profession, where he worked in this profession thirty years ago. He pointed out that we rely on the Syrian string, which is unmatched by another thread in the world and it was brought from Aleppo. But now, we rely on the string imported from other countries.

Abu Badr clarified that the profession is almost extinct and very few people who want to learn it because it is tiring and causes pains in the back and spine. This profession requires long hours of standing behind the machine and it also causes injuries to the limbs.

Abu Badr said that the price of Iqal ranges from 100 to 500 Syrian pounds according to the quality of the thread.

Sh. Kh