Tailor Ironing Pleats Backstage Cairo

A heavy brass iron rests on a mound of pleated silk, releasing a thick plume of steam that catches the afternoon light. The fabric lies on a narrow wooden table within a narrow corridor lined with rough stone walls typical of the City of the Dead. Dust motes float in visible shafts of diffused light entering from a high, barred window. The steam curls upward, partially obscuring the intricate folds of the garment. Behind the iron, a stack of dark wool coats hangs from a rusted hook, waiting for the next fitting. A shadow falls across the stone floor where the light does not reach, highlighting the texture of the dusty ground. at the edge is a single thread caught on the tip of the iron's spout.