Pergamon Carpet
Bergama Carpet Women's Cooperative was established in the Bergama district of Izmir in order to protect the traditional Turkish carpet weaving art and to support the economic independence of local women through this art. The founding members of the cooperative are entrepreneurs and community leaders who want to preserve the region's carpet weaving tradition and increase women's economic empowerment.
Founding member:
Kadriye Yakar :
I was born on September 12, 1962, in Tokat. I received training in carpet weaving, kilim weaving, and fabric weaving on a spinning loom from various institutions and individuals. I retired in 2004. Without taking a break, I completed my family education expertise training organized by the Ministry of National Education in 2003.
During this educational process, which I successfully continued until 2015, I touched the lives of many women living in Bergama and helped them gain self-confidence. While providing these trainings, I noticed the economic difficulties faced by mothers.
Artist
T.C. Weaving Artist at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Unesco Intagible Cultural Heritage Bearer
In 2010, to support the family budgets of our women, I founded the Bergama Carpet and Handicrafts Cooperative.
The work of the cooperative, which we established in 2009, was formed by combining the experience of the instructors and weavers I trained during my years as a master instructor at the Bergama Public Education Center with my 45 years of experience. I currently serve as the president of the general assembly of the cooperative I founded. What does carpet weaving mean to me? Most importantly, engaging in an art form supports my personality, increases my self-confidence, ensures my economic freedom, and I bury all my negative thoughts and sorrows into the carpet while weaving. The artwork that emerges from my efforts changes my perspective on life.
I transfer the paintings of famous Turkish painters to carpets. I work on special designs of many architects, which makes me very happy. Carpet weaving is one of the oldest art forms of Turkish culture.
The best proof of this is the Pazyryk carpet, which is a Turkish weaving, dated to the 5th century BC, and discovered by archaeologist Natalia Polosmak. Mummified bodies with animal-patterned tattoos on their arms, including the "Ice Maiden," were discovered alongside it. The border motifs of the Pazyryk carpet also feature stylized animal types. The Turkish knot was used in the Pazyryk carpet. The Turks called it "kalı" due to its permanent feature. Since Turks led a nomadic life and their livelihood was based on animal husbandry, they made extensive use of the wool, meat, and milk of animals. They used wool to decorate their tents, as floor coverings, and in their beds and quilts. Despite the lack of technology in those years, they discovered the climatic properties of goat hair. Hair tents kept them cool in summer and warm in winter. When it rained, the expansion of goat hair made it felted, preventing rainwater from passing through. They wove various colors and motifs into carpets using sheep wool. The characteristic of the Turkish knot used in our carpets is that a double knot is made on both sides of a pair of warp threads for each loop. In the Iranian knot, the knot is tied only on one side of the warp threads. The quality feature of Turkish carpets is the double knot.
The most important material used in carpet weaving is wool. As a cooperative, we obtain wool from plant roots as natural dye, without using any chemical substances, as in the past. The carpets we used to weave on wooden looms are now woven on more modern iron looms. However, the technique used in weaving remains unchanged as it is done by hand. The most important tool in the loom or weaving is the "gücü." The "gücü" ensures that the knots are tightened in a crisscross manner in each row while weaving. The "kirkit" is used to tighten the threads in each finished row, and the scissors ensure that the woven threads are cut neatly. Traditional carpet weavings are gradually being replaced by modern designs. However, I believe that traditional designs, even in modern homes, have a feature that defies years like a precious metal, increasing in value.
My ultimate goal as a carpet artist is to establish a magnificent carpet museum in Bergama.
I am persistently pursuing negotiations related to this. Our cooperative reaches out to villages in rural areas, setting up workshops after the training we provide, and bringing weaving looms to enable production in these villages, helping women contribute to the family budget. We have made the Bergama-Kozak villages (our central workshop and Yukaribey, Karaveliler, Kiranlı) capable of producing for America and Europe. Carpets from the 16th century, subject to paintings by world-renowned painters, were created. Bergama carpets, Holbein and Holbein group carpets, Yuntdağı carpets, and the first Turkish carpet, Pazyryk, have also been produced.
These are included in our collection. Through our work with the İzmir Provincial Directorate of Culture, we trained women in Karaveliler village to weave 16th-century Bergama carpets.
In 2019-2020, with support from İZKA, we revived the production of Bergama carpets, which were on the verge of disappearing. Our goal is not only to generate income for cooperative members but also to direct women throughout the region and Turkey towards production and contribute to the national economy. At the point we have reached, based on an offer from the famous American carpet company Mohawk, and with the support of İZKA and the İzmir Provincial Directorate of Commerce, sample works were woven in our cooperative and sent, resulting in success. We are now in a position to export carpets to America. During this process, I trained many young girls as carpet teachers, also enabling them to complete their university education. In the culture of weaving, Western Anatolian Bergama Carpets hold a very important position due to their unique colors and patterns. In this regard, I would like to conclude my words with the legend of the "Kız Bergama Carpet," unique to Bergama.
Collaboration with Young Entrepreneurs:
The cooperative plans to collaborate with young entrepreneurs to develop innovative ideas and modern business models. In this way, it is aimed to ensure the adoption and sustainability of the traditional weaving art by young generations.
Social responsibility projects:
Bergama Carpet aims to contribute to society and improve the quality of life of local people with social responsibility projects. These projects include educational scholarships, health services and social events.
Expansion into International Markets:
Pergamon Carpet aims to introduce its products to wider audiences in international markets and expand its sales network. This includes participation in various fairs, international collaborations and digital marketing strategies.
Education and Employees
Focusing on the education and development of local women, the cooperative aims to introduce more women to art and help them become professionals. Regular trainings and workshops are organized for this purpose.
Sustainable Production and Environmentally Friendly Practices:
The cooperative plans to adopt environmentally friendly and sustainable practices in its production processes. Efforts include the use of recyclable materials, energy-saving measures and waste management practices.
Aim :
Kadriye Yakar and other founding members work meticulously to achieve these goals for Bergama Carpet Women's Cooperative. They play an important role in the preservation of traditional handicrafts and the economic empowerment of women in the modern world.