Damascus, Sept. 1 (SANA) At the 63rd Damascus International Fair, 23-year-old artisan Maher Deirki is giving visitors a close-up look at one of Syria’s oldest traditional crafts, weaving intricate Damascene brocade on a handloom using skills passed down through generations of his family.
Deirki learned the craft from his father, who inherited it from his own father. Now one of the youngest artisans practicing the trade, he is demonstrating the brocade-making process to visitors at the fair, turning interwoven silk threads into elaborate patterns and colors.
Damascene brocade, known for its intricate designs, rich colors and distinctive sheen, is among Syria’s most celebrated traditional textiles. Its production combines painstaking handwork with natural silk, preserving a craft closely associated with the cultural heritage of Damascus.
A family tradition
“Brocade is not just a profession for me. It is a family legacy and a craft I love,” Deirki told SANA.
His family’s connection to the trade stretches back generations, and he says preserving its traditional methods remains central to his work even as he seeks to develop his skills.
At the fair, Deirki demonstrates each stage of production, giving visitors a close-up look at the handloom and the techniques used to create the fabric.
For some, he said, it is their first opportunity to see how brocade is woven. Others have shown interest in learning the craft themselves.
Deirki says bringing younger people into the profession will be essential to its survival. Training programs, greater support for artisans and more opportunities to participate in exhibitions at home and abroad could help ensure traditional crafts are not lost, he said.
Economic pressures
Keeping the tradition alive, however, comes with economic challenges.
Deirki said weaker purchasing power and the rising cost of natural silk have weighed on demand. Artisans have responded by offering fabrics made with a wider range of materials, including plant-based and synthetic silk, to provide more affordable options.
Expanding into foreign markets could offer another lifeline.
Brocade has historically attracted tourists and overseas buyers, and Deirki believes participation in international exhibitions and stronger promotion of Syrian products could open new markets for local artisans.
More than a luxury fabric
For Deirki, the future of brocade is about more than sales.
He hopes to teach the craft to his children one day, continuing a family tradition and passing on the skills he inherited from previous generations.
Visitors watching him at work described Damascene brocade as a living part of Syria’s cultural heritage and a testament to the skill of Syrian craftspeople.
They pointed to the precision required to weave natural silk with gold and silver threads into elaborate designs on a handloom — a process that has helped make the textile a symbol of Damascene craftsmanship.
For generations, a number of Damascus families have kept the brocade tradition alive. Its continued production, despite changing markets and economic conditions, reflects the resilience of a craft that has adapted without losing its identity.
The 63rd Damascus International Fair runs at the Damascus Fairgrounds through Sept. 4.
R.D/ABD
