Hello

I was born in Yenikent Town of Aksaray in 1972. I completed my primary, secondary and high school education in this town. I started to carpet restoration work as a hobby during my high school years without foreseeing that it would be my future occupation through which I would earn my living.

When I came to Istanbul in 1989, I was both working and having a summer holiday. My work was carpets. I carried this work out as an apprentice and in an amateur manner within 1989-1994 and started to handle the work professionally since then. I determined some higher aims. Carpet work which I had started as a hobby became my occupation. I tried to execute my craft as best as I can and put giant steps towards being a brand. I have accomplished my aim up to a certain level by going abroad after a few years since then. I had my first invitation from Japan in 1998 and made shows and presentations on restoration weaving techniques in carpet fair. I feel proud of representing Turkish carpets to Japanese who hold a considerable capital and make them love our carpets.
 
I have been making trips to Japan for every year as the invited guest of Japanese carpet firms. Korea and Dubai followed up this modern country. I think that the restoration art besides being a very complicated handicraft, it is also a contribution to the reflection of history of art and craft. Carpet restoration work is carried in several countries of world which is in particular concentrated in Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Turkey. In a wide-known truth that Turkey is the top country amongst the above given counties in handling this work to the zenith. The European carpet traders are aware of this fact and voice this situation over in every opportunity; because for many years European and American carpet traders have been sending their carpets to Turkey for restoration and maintenance. Turkish craftsmen introduced an artistic dimension to this work and mixed it with their craft abilities. This work necessitates of the long-termed experience and accumulation to be stored in the brain. For me, the restoration reflects the spirit of a person. Craftsmen’s love towards its work is the essential leading point on the quality of the work done. You must feel the touch of the needle when it moves through the carpet. In case of a problematic personality, it does not matter how a skilled craftsmen you are, the result would be under expectations. Craftsmen have to be integrated with the carpet throughout the restoration process. The eyes should be on the tips of your fingers. We are professionally dealing with restoration of antique wool and silk carpets. Furthermore, silk restorers are just a few in numbers in Turkey. When there are 9 loops in centimeter square of a wool carpet, this loop number increases up to 800 in silk carpets. This job requires sensitive care and professionalism. We professionally established a workshop in Istanbul which is focused on this very field. We are experiencing hard times in training new carpet masters (We are like Bald Ibis which is one of the endangered bird species). As it is the money not the craft the apprentices care most, they leave the work after a short period of working; because they have to undergone 5 year long difficult and suffering apprentice period to get mastered in silk restoration and this makes them experience difficulties in capitalist world
Copyriht @ Antika Halı Tamircisi 2007