Tire artisans fight to preserve traditional Turkish crafts

In the Tire district of İzmir, artisans are working to preserve traditional Turkish crafts that are facing extinction due to the rise of modern technology and mass-produced plastic goods.

Nihat Yakın, a traditional takunya (wooden clog) master and recognized artisan by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, is adapting his craft to survive. Once essential for mosques and Turkish baths, takunyas are now being produced as miniatures, accessories, and decorative gift items like keychains to maintain their cultural relevance.

Simultaneously, 66-year-old Raife Baysal is preserving the ancient art of urgan (rope) making. This craft, which uses natural plant bark, holds significant historical value, having been used to pull ships during the conquest of Istanbul in 1453 and in various capacities during the Turkish War of Independence. To combat the dominance of imported and factory-made products, Baysal has transitioned from making functional ropes to creating modern decorative items such as bags and hats.