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In the Korfez district of Kocaeli, Türkiye, the Hereke Silk Weaving and Carpet Factory—founded in 1843 during the reign of Sultan Abdulmecid—has been handcrafting luxurious silk fabrics for 182 years.
Established initially by two brothers as a large workshop in the Hereke region, the factory was brought under the patronage of the Ottoman palace in 1845 and renamed Hereke Fabrika-i Humayunu.
What began as a production center for curtains and upholstery for Ottoman palaces later expanded to include intricately woven carpets. These handcrafted pieces quickly became symbols of prestige and artistic excellence.
By the late 19th century, Hereke's craftsmanship had become a global brand, earning accolades in Europe and beyond. Among its most monumental achievements is a 468-square-meter, 3-ton carpet woven in 1897 for the Yildiz Chalet
Pavilion's reception hall, in honor of German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II's visit during Sultan Abdulhamid II's reign.
Hereke carpets also grace iconic venues such as the Beylerbeyi Palace Blue Hall, the Dolmabahce Palace State Hall, the Hague International Court of Justice, and even the White House.
The looms in Hereke still operate as they did in 1843—entirely manually and without modern automation. Revitalized over the years without altering their original mechanisms, these traditional wooden looms require immense effort.
For just 1 centimeter of fabric, the shuttle must pass 60 times, and creating a 60 cm piece demands 3,600 precise hand movements.
These labor-intensive methods preserve not only the fabric’s unmatched quality but also Türkiye’s rich cultural heritage and legacy of handcraftsmanship.
Yusuf Yildirim, who has worked at the factory since 2006, serves as a master craftsman. He explained, "We produce silk fabrics for palaces, using the same system since 1843." The wooden parts may be replaced over time, but the mechanics remain identical. We use the Jacquard-Armure mechanism—the Jacquard defines the design, and the Armure builds the structure."
"What we do here is not just weaving; it’s preserving our heritage. The work could be done with automatic looms, but we insist on tradition. Our fabrics are 100% silk—no cotton or polyester. We stay faithful to the texture of history," he added.
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