KDZ. EREĞLİ PUBLIC EDUCATION CENTER, ELPEK CLOTH PRODUCTION COURSES
Elpek cloth, obtained from the fibre of the flax plant grown in the fertile lands of the Western Black Sea, has been produced and woven in handlooms in the region for centuries. Its name is mentioned in Katip Çelebi's work "Cihannüma" and as mentioned in the book, it was also used as sailcloth in the Ottoman Navy due to its durability. Elpek, one of the most important cultural products of Kdz.Ereğli; Today, besides being used traditionally in the production of all kinds of daily clothes, it is mostly used in the production of products such as scarves, shirts and loincloths as gifts.
It is very healthy because it has an organic fabric structure that takes air and sweat.
As the Kdz.Ereğli Public Education Center, we made an important attempt to revive this handicraft and handicraft weaving, which was forgotten in our grandmothers' chests, where there is almost no weaving even in the villages, and to teach this art of weaving to the younger generations with our trainer Nigar Duman, we have not only taught about one hundred and fifty women how to weave this cloth in the last four years but also tried to contribute to women's employment and production. We opened some Elpek Cloth courses which we have collaborated with some private Institutions and public corporation in this field.
Thanks to the established Elpek-cloth business cooperative, many women have a profession in production workshops and thus have the opportunity to sell what they produce.
It has started to make a name for itself in our region as an important initiative activity for both their own families and the region.
The women's initiative, which already has an important place in our district in the social and economic field, is named “HANDS, WEAVING ELPEK CLOTH, women's initiative production and management cooperative.
It aims to appeal to a wider audience every year, to grow and pioneer new initiatives.
