An exhibition of handiwork (women’s home crafts) such as embroidery, weaving, crocheting, knitting, beadwork etc. Although new techniques and designs are introduced, these home crafts are of traditional origine.

The importance of women’s ‘el işi’ (el = hand / işi = work of) in Turkish popular (rural) culture cannot be overestimated. First of all, it is ‘conditio sine qua non’ for the trousseau the bride will bring along with her and which consists of many items of handiwork. This often huge collection will be exhibited at the bride’s home first, and then at the bridegroom’s house, where it stays on exhibit for several weeks (sometimes up to 40 days). If it is true that the details of the trousseau do not interest the men, it does interest women all the more: they will come and examine all pieces carefully, and the newcomer (bride = gelin = the one coming) will be questioned exhaustively. She will have to prove her diligence, her knowledge of techniques and designs, and her creativity; at the same time, she will become acquainted with the women of her new entourage (since by marrying, she moved from her family to that of her husband – that is: of her mother-in-law, at least for a couple of years). That means in general: a new village too.

In theory all pieces of a trousseau have been produced by the bride. In fact, all female members of her family contributed to the massive amount of work involved. If the bride’s family is not poor, some items were probably bought from outsiders, even. Here, a second aspect of women’s handiwork appear: a way of making some extra money. The last decades, as more women do not want spending lots of time weaving, embroidering or knitting anymore, all towns in Turkey have specialised shops selling the materials for ‘el işi’, and buying finished pieces (to sell them further, of course). It is a double movement: the traditional skills tend to disappear, and courses are organised to teach them to women who are interested. Sometimes it becomes a hobby, mostly it will be a small home industry, whose production is sold on special occasions (like the stands of this exhibition, placed on the right) or to specialised shops (on the left on this picture).

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.