In a narrow alley off Abdel Khalek Tharwat Street in downtown Cairo, an old sign bearing the name ‘Babel’stands out.
Looking down, an elegant building stands with high-quality, distinguished shoes inside. This is the Babel Shoe Factory, which was established in 1952, and one of the best shoe shops in the city.
Entering the shop, one can see a 70-year-old shoemaker busy polishing his hand-made shoes. Amin Abul el-Enein is the owner of the shop, which began very small with only a few workers. His brother Khaled helps him manage the shop.
“We chose the name Babel because there was a brand in Switzerland called Bally, which was famous for making high-quality shoes. So, we wanted to make a similar brand, but chose Babel because it looks more like an Arabic name,” Abu el-Enein told The Egyptian Gazette.
Since then, Babel has been receiving the most elegant customers in the city.
“We used to deal with public figures and government ministers because we made shoes with natural leather,” Abu El-Enein said.
“Muslim preacher Sheikh Mohamed Metwally Al-Shaarawi and former prime Minister Atef Ebeid were regulars.
“They appreciated our work. And we were importing leather from Germany and Russia in 1970s,” he added.
Foreign clients also admired the hand-made items of Babel.
“We still get a few foreigners who want bespoke shoes or who want to repair their old shoes,” the shoemaker said.
Quality, Affordable Prices
Abu El-Enein said that his products are their quality and competitive prices suitable for everyone.
“We have very old shoes here and we can also repair old shoes if they are damaged,” he added.
Abu El-Enein said that one day a foreign tourist came to Babel from Italy and bought shoes.
“He was very impressed by them and our work. He told us an unforgettable maxim: Relaxation of the body starts from the foot.”
Abu El-Enein said that the people who keep visiting Babel are the ones who really understand what natural leather means.
Coronavirus Taking Toll
Like many businesses, the Babel Shoe Factory has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
“Of course, the pandemic affected our business for two years. Sales went down, but we kept our employees on,” Khaled Abu El-Enein said.
The brothers exported some of their products for almost 30 years. Now, they just sell shoes in Egypt.
To make shoes, they are also now dealing with some famous Egyptian tanneries to buy all kinds of natural leather.
Hopes
The Abu El-Enein brothers hope that their profession will carry on because it creates jobs and adds a lot to the country’s economy.
“As economic pressures pile up, we hope that we can open a shoemaking training centre to keep the industry alive,” Amin Abu El-Enein said.
“This is a very unique industry that should not be allowed to disappear. We have to protect it, continue to make hand-made shoes and export them.”
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