As part of Beinsitu Sustainability Institute’s new project, Craft Stories, we aim to contribute to the sustainability and visibility of local craftsmanship. Our first focus: the art of Kastamonu block printing!
The Institute organized and documented the journey of the scarf’s making process.
Located in the Black Sea region of northwestern Türkiye, Kastamonu is one of Anatolia’s old cities, known for its natural and cultural heritage.
The video of “Peace Scarf”
First Step in Istanbul!
Our journey started in Istanbul at the historic Büyük Yeni Han, located in Eminonu. This is known for its grand courtyards and elegant arcades and it is a symbol of Istanbul’s rich trade history. Built in 1764, the stone and brick mixed building first housed sarraf shops which were dealers of gold and other precious metals, then weaving workshops and shops.
Today, for the last five decades, it has been used as a hub for wholesale trade and silver production. At Kamer Yazma, a family-run workshop located within Büyük Yeni Han, we handpicked fabrics and colors for our project.
Managed by two brothers and a son, this business has been developed for 44 years, continuing a legacy that began with their father in 1966. They are engaged in fabric production and block printing in different cities in Türkiye, serving as a bridge connecticng generations through the art of fabric printing.
The Craft Journey Continues in Kastamonu…
Our first stop was the wooden block printing workshop of artisan Yıldırım Çetin at the Münire Medrese Handicrafts Bazaar. The Münire Medrese was built in 1746 and there are different handicarfts workshops related with Kastamonu’s cultural heritage.
Inspired by 100-year-old motifs and patterns from Kastamonu’s Republican era, we made the new wooden copies for the “Peace Scarf”.
The Peace Scarf in Design and Craft Process
We created sample designs for the Peace Scarf, combining 100-year-old motifs and patterns from Kastamonu’s Republican era into a fresh, modern design with Artisan and researcher Veliye Martı and Memnune Kebabçı who is an artisan from her team.
Firstly, the wooden molds are tested and prepared the for the design and production process of the scarf. The most exciting part is the collaborative design and craft production and shared creativity!
