Selahattin Dayal continues 70-year quilt making tradition in Sapanca

In Sapanca, Sakarya, 93-year-old Selahattin Dayal has maintained the traditional craft of quilt making for approximately 70 years. Known locally as ‘Yastıkçı Dede’ (Grandpa Pillow Maker), Dayal learned the trade during his military service in Ankara, where he was tasked with sewing dormitory quilts.

Dayal continues to work daily from 09:00 to 19:00, maintaining a reputation for honesty and meticulousness. The business has become a multi-generational family endeavor; his son, Celal Dayal, joined the shop in 2012, and his 10-year-old granddaughter, Zehra Dayal, assists with machine sewing and pillow filling.

The workshop sees consistent demand for wool and cotton products from customers in surrounding districts such as Akyazı, Karasu, and Hendek. The family notes that despite the perception that traditional trades are dying, they continue to serve long-standing clients, sometimes providing quilts for the children of customers they originally served decades ago.