Edirne broom makers struggle to preserve traditional craft

In Edirne, Turkey, traditional broom makers are fighting to keep their craft alive as the industry faces a sharp decline. Hamdi Gaspar, a master craftsman with 56 years of experience, notes that the sector has shrunk significantly from its peak.

Between the 1970s and the early 2000s, the Edirne Broom Exchange hosted between 200 and 250 workshops, employing over a thousand people. Today, only a handful of artisans remain, with only three masters engaged in intensive production.

Gaspar attributes the decline to technological advancements and changes in raw material production. He explained that while the industry once functioned like a ‘smokeless factory’ providing livelihoods for many, modern technology and the shift toward integrated manufacturing in other regions have reduced both raw material supply and overall demand.