Carpets woven by women in traditional looms in Gaziantep’s Oğuzeli district,with Turkish motifs that have sunk into oblivion, are exported to Japan.
Weaving courses opened in four neighborhoods attract attention by the Oğuzeli Municipality in order to transfer carpet weaving to future generations and to contribute to the family budget of women.
Applying what they learned on traditional looms, 20 trainees weave different and colorful Turkish motifs, which have sunk into oblivion, on carpets.
The carpets woven by the women who decorate the carpets with Ottoman Turkish principalities and Kazakh motifs are exported to Japan by a private carpet company. 50 of the carpets, which took a long time to make, were sent to Japan within three years.
Women, who earn money per stitch they threw, both carry the motifs that are about to disappear into the future and contribute to their family budgets.
Oğuzeli Mayor Mehmet Sait Kılıç told Anadolu Agency (AA) that Turkish carpets are produced by women using traditional and natural methods.
Stating that weaving is a difficult job, Kılıç continued as follows:
“In our carpet looms, our women produce our handcrafted Turkish-patterned carpets with natural threads and natural root dye. From there, they are exported to Japan. Here, both our citizens learn a profession and our district economy wins. A profession is gained in terms of getting a profession. Our country wins, our district wins. “We are pleased with this activity. We are working with an understanding of social municipality and development-oriented municipality beyond making an income from here. We have a cultural element here, we have carpets with Turkish motifs.”
Kılıç stated that the threads used in weaving are made of goat and sheep wool produced by the farmers.
Shipping to Japan
Explaining that they have implemented a versatile project in carpet production, Kılıç said:
“The Turkish nation is one of the oldest nations in history, we have a great cultural background. With the development of technology, some of these cultural elements have started to disappear. We are the lad of handicraft, which is on the verge of disappearing. At the same time, we want to continue this tradition that reflects our culture. “We are a nation with a common culture with Japan. They are also an old nation, and we are also pleased that the carpets produced here are in demand there.”
“Proud to advance our tradition and culture”
Master trainer Bedriye Özbey stated that she has been working on carpet weaving for about 30 years.
Expressing that he loves his profession, Özbey said, “We are proud of our work. We are proud to advance our tradition and culture. This carpet weaving, which was used for the advancement of Turks centuries ago, is now in the background. We are trying to bring to light the motifs that are on the verge of being forgotten. A job that would be a mistake in any carelessness.” he said.
Trainee Bediha Akaslan also explained that she has just started weaving and she loves weaving.
Akaslan said that after the drawings came, they got a job as a result of the lottery.
“My friends were coming, so I wanted to come. I didn’t have much courage, but I learned, I’m very pleased. When I started weaving, I liked it when the patterns emerged. I even said, ‘I am making this myself’. I recommend it to everyone. Sometimes we make mistakes. The more we give patterns and colors, the more attention I get. “It’s beautiful. We even say that when some of our carpets go from here, we say ‘he’s lucky to have bought this.’ It’s a pleasure.