Bafra revives traditional zembil bags

In Bafra, Turkey, a three‑century‑old craft known as the zembil—originally a sack for carrying goods—has been revived by local women. Using the tough grass kındıra and corn husks, they weave the natural material into modern items such as laundry baskets, decorative vases, and fashion bags.

The workshops are organized by the Bafra Mehmet Yıldız Community Education Center and led by master artisan Nuran Güngör. She explained, "Zembil, Bafra's 300‑year‑old traditional craft, was once a transport tool; today we modernise it to create different products. The zembil is completely eco‑friendly, and when its life ends it returns to the soil."

The revival is part of the Culture Road Festival and aims to promote the zembil as a geographically protected product, highlighting its durability, natural origins, and ability to keep food fresh for long periods.