TİKAD Supports Women Cooperatives in the Earthquake Zone
Foreks - Following the Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes in 2023, a special project is being initiated by the Turkish Businesswomen's Association (TİKAD) to increase women's employment in the region, to contribute to the worldwide marketing of products produced by women's labor, and to revitalize carpet weaving, which is one of Turkey's traditional handicrafts. The project, which was developed by Ahmet Nakkaş, a former president of the Turkish Clothing Manufacturers Association, is being implemented by TİKAD with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The project is also supported by Halkbank (IS:HALKB), which stands by all women entrepreneurs and producers in Turkey. Halkbank General Manager Osman Arslan expressed their significance on supporting women cooperatives in the earthquake zone and stated their pride in doing so.
As part of the project, traditional Turkish carpets and four unique carpets designed specifically for each city by four successful Turkish artists are being handwoven on looms set up in four cities affected by the earthquake. This project, focusing on social responsibility, will be supported by orders from world-renowned international textile brands for the carpets and rugs that will continue to be produced.
Described as one of the disasters of the century, the Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes were rapidly addressed with the solidarity shown by our nation and the strength of our state, allowing wounds to heal and life to flourish once again. However, there is still much work to be done. Among the priorities is accelerating economic development along with providing psychological and social support to reconnect the local population with life.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) provided material and technical support to the women's cooperatives involved in the project. FAO Turkey Deputy Representative Dr. Ayşegül Selışık articulated their support for the project, stating: “In carpet weaving, which is an important example of traditional handicrafts, pure wool yarn is used. We supplied this yarn to be sent to women's cooperatives for use in weaving looms. Furthermore, through our FAO experts, we conducted training sessions on ‘Digital Tools and Strategies for Cooperatives, Business Model Cycle in Cooperatives, and Preparing Business and Marketing Plans.’ These trainings are vital for enhancing the sustainability and competitiveness of the cooperatives. The business model and business plan training allow cooperatives to define their strategic objectives and utilize their resources more effectively. We are confident that this support from FAO will help female cooperatives increase their market share and contribute more effectively to local economies. Thanks to these cooperatives led by women locally, women are collectively empowered by producing together and finding shared solutions to their needs with the available resources. Women are acting in solidarity, collaborating with wider communities. Not only the women who are cooperative members are empowered, but the local communities are also strengthened. As the FAO Turkey team, we are delighted to support this project, which enables women in the earthquake zone to hold on to life again.”
Four valuable artists support the project with exclusive designs. World-renowned jewelry designer Sevan Bıçakçı, Ece and Ayşe Ege, founders of the Dice Kayek brand with numerous international design awards in the fashion world, Fırat Neziroğlu, an artist and lecturer whose weaving technique has entered the global literature under his own name, and Kadriye İnal, who enjoys a wide fanbase for her surreal sculptures and public artworks, have rolled up their sleeves for this project. The artists chose one of the four cities where the project will take place and designed a carpet exclusively for that city. In addition to the traditionally patterned carpets, these four special carpets have also begun to be handwoven by women in the earthquake zone. The project is supervised by artist Fırat Neziroğlu.
Local women’s cooperatives were included in the project. The Kahramanmaraş Yedi Güzel Kadın Kooperatifi, Hatay Rimmen Women’s Cooperative, Adıyaman Sevgimin Hilali Women’s Cooperative, and Malatya – Pütürge Women’s Initiative Production and Operation Cooperative are the main supporters of all local activities, from the completion of weaving training for women in the region to determining areas for setting up weaving looms.
It is not enough to produce; the financial value of labor must also be justly recognized. As women striving to regain their footing in the earthquake zone prepare to gain the recognition and value they deserve in the global arena, a key focus for the Turkish Businesswomen's Association is ensuring that this labor receives the financial recognition it deserves. Selling all traditional handicraft products made by women's labor at low prices poses a significant barrier to the sustainability of these arts. The low wage policy also hinders women from gaining economic power. TİKAD is ensuring that the true labor owners also benefit from this project.
The world's oldest known carpet bears the signature of the Turks. Traditional handwoven Turkish carpet weaving, dating back to the 4th-5th century BC, remains a widespread handicraft practiced in the earthquake zones to this day. Every carpet found in Anatolia, which has hosted civilizations for thousands of years, is regarded as a unique piece of art because of the meanings carried by its motifs. The world's oldest known carpet is associated with the Turks. The oldest finding regarding Turkish and world carpet art is accepted to be the carpet known as the "Pazırık Carpet," discovered between 1947-49 by Russian archaeologist C. İ. Rudenko at the foothills of the Altai Mountains in Siberia. It is thought that the carpet displayed in the Leningrad Hermitage Museum was woven between the 5th and 3rd centuries BC. The development of Turkish carpet art is known to have continued in Anatolia following the Turks' conquest of Anatolia in 1071. Therefore, the carpets woven by women striving to hold onto life once again in Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Adıyaman, and Malatya after the earthquake will carry the essence of such a deep-rooted legacy into the present day.