Kahramanmaraş Revives Traditional Sim Sirma Embroidery for Weddings

The historic city of Kahramanmaraş is experiencing a revival of its famed Maraş‑İşi sim‑sirma embroidery as the wedding season begins. Artisans are hand‑crafting the intricate metal‑thread motifs on bridal items such as shoes, bags, pouches, prayer rugs and textiles, drawing on designs that trace back to Ottoman and Anatolian artistic traditions. Workshops and courses are training new generations to keep the craft alive, emphasizing its cultural and spiritual significance in contemporary ceremonies.

At the same time, researchers and historians are examining the etymology of Kahramanmaraş’s name. Ancient Assyrian records list the settlement as “Markasi,” while Byzantine sources refer to it as “Markasion.” Ottoman‑era legends claim the name derives from the Arabic word for “trembling,” linked to malaria‑induced shivers, and the 17th‑century traveler Evliya Çelebi suggested a connection to the Turkish word for snakes, “Marış.” These competing narratives highlight the city’s layered multicultural heritage.