The main source of income for locals in the Ye?ilyurt district of Mu?la is silk hand-woven fabrics, a 300-year-old tradition. But the old tradition has found exciting new markets -- some of these fabrics have been used to make costumes for Hollywood actors.
But despite the growing market, most silk shops are still small family-run affairs, frequently located in the basements of homes.
In 1993 the popularity of tobacco farming as an occupation declined in Turkey and Lale Aytaman, the first female governor in Turkey, promoted the return to hand-woven silk production. The first products were sold to popular brands such as Vakko and Beymen and later to Hollywood filmmakers. Costumes made from local textiles were used in movies such as “Harry Potter” and “Troy,” thanks to film costume coordinator Jeeda Barford. The fabric for the costumes of Diana Kruger, who starred as the Helen in “Troy,” were all made in Ye?ilyurt.
Ancient motifs are still used in the Karacan Traditional Hand Weaving Workshop, owned by the Karacan family. Zeynep Karacan noted that many big names have requested hand-woven products from Ye?ilyurt, such as Cemil ?pek?i, Vakko and Beymen. There are orders from abroad as well.
Locals supply both silk and wool for hand-woven fabrics, made on four worktables in the workshop. High quality bulk thread from Tari? is placed in hot water and then laid to dry. Then the thread is warped on a loom. Once the thread is placed on the heddles, it is woven, with color and motifs incorporated.
Karacan said that most hand-woven products are now used in boutique hotels and luxury villas as curtains. Noting that their hand-weaving workshop is set in their family house’s courtyard, Karacan said they produce old hand-woven products.
“We gave Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an’s wife, Emine Erdo?an, hand-woven fabric as a gift. We refer to more special customers. We work with high quality cotton and silk. Although it is a very difficult job we can weave 10 meters each day. This is a family business. If we receive too many orders we ask other people in the town for help. We can prepare many products such as curtains, outfits, shawls and tablecloths in our workshop. We have four tables on which to weave our products,” Karacan said.
Governor Aytaman placed an order for an outfit as a gesture to support local hand-weaving, Karacan said. “We made a skirt and jacket from checkered fabric for Governor Aytaman. Our governor wore the set several times to promote hand-weaving. In appreciation we decided to name that design ‘Governor’.”
The Karacan family first began to sell their products after placing them on display in their workshop. But over time the family began weaving more products and needed a larger area to showcase their items. Now the family owns a small shop in the city center. They have customers from near and abroad. Emphasizing that their job is arduous, Karacan said that at one point they decided to export their products but could not afford the high tariffs set by foreign countries.
Mother Sebahat Karacan, 60, said they are trying to keep a 300-year-old tradition of silk hand-weaving alive -- she taught her own children the craft herself.
Source:Industry Website