The Tentmaker Artists Hany El Sayed and Ekramy Hanafy

Hany El Sayed

Ekramy Hanafy

Hany El Sayed and Ekramy Hanafy possess 58 years of tentmaking experience between them. 

Both were born in Cairo and became tentmakers at a young age, following family members in the art.

Hany El Sayed
Hany was interested in tentmaking at a young age and followed his grandfather and cousin into the art. Tutored individually by his cousin, Hany has always been a tentmaker having commenced work at the age of 10.

Hany's first piece was an eye of Horus, a style of work he still enjoys; however Hany draws influence from, and specialises in Islamic art as one of the main body of visual ideas which tentmakers incorporate into their designs.

With 3 tentmakers working for him, Hany has his own store through which to sell his own work and the work of the other tentmakers. 

Hany is 39 years of age and is married to Sayda. They have 2 children,  Joseph who is 8 years of age and Saad who is 4 years of age. 


Ekramy Hanafy
Ekramy became interested in tentmaker through watching his family work, and particularly through watching his Father's work.  Hany commenced as a tentmaker at the age of 12 and is now 40 years of age. 

 Ekramy particularly enjoys complicated designs and especially enjoys the challenge of working a complicated design for the first time. 

A memorable piece produced by Ekramy was for the American Quilting Society and consisted of a complex Romi design with a star in the middle. 

Ekramy works with his brother and has 2 workshops with 25 tentmakers. 

Ekramy is married to Marwa and has 3 children, Naden who is 13 years of age, Ahmed who is 10 and Mohammed who is 7 years of age.