STORY: Turkish craftsmen preserve Silk Road needle lace tradition
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: Feb. 14, 2025
LENGTH: 00:02:08
LOCATION: Ankara
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the shops selling silk needle laces
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): ZEHRA AKIN, Needle lace producer
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): ZEHRA AKIN, Needle lace producer
4. various of the shops selling silk needle laces
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Turkish): HUSEYIN TIRTIL, Local tour guide

STORYLINE:

For years, craftsmen in Nallihan, a remote district of Türkiye's capital Ankara, have crafted intricate silk needle lace, a tradition that continues to thrive today.

In the region, craftsmen make needle lace edgings and ornaments for jewelry and decorative purposes. The craft is closely linked to the Silk Road, as the small town sits on the ancient trade route between the Far East and Europe, where the making and use of needle lace is common.

In a restored Ottoman caravanserai, Kocahan, a large inn that used to accommodate caravans on the Silk Road, 58-year-old Zehra Akin is busy in her shop preparing orders, ready to be shipped to her mostly foreign customers.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): ZEHRA AKIN, Needle lace producer
"We take our inspiration from nature, flowers, and animals."

Nallihan needle lace features botanical designs, including fruits, leaves, and flowers, along with figural elements such as butterflies and motifs like baskets, bags, and geometric patterns, all shaped by the artisan's creativity, Akin explained.

Akin, who has been practicing lace needlework for decades -- a craft her grandmother passed down to her as a young girl -- stressed that needle lace is a labor-intensive and time-consuming art form.

Traditionally used for edgings, folkloric clothes and tablecloths, silk needle lace was reinvented over 20 years ago by Akin and other local women, who began creating three-dimensional handmade works. Each piece of Nallihan needle lace is meticulously handcrafted, showcasing the artisans' dedication and expertise.

A key distinguishing feature of this craft is the unique "thread twisting" technique, which involves twisting the thread during the crafting process, resulting in a sturdy and long-lasting structure. The twisted threads give the lace a firm, three-dimensional look, enhancing its distinctive aesthetic.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): ZEHRA AKIN, Needle lace producer
"I know this art style originated in China. The silk came from there. When I began making needle lace work, I understood how the Silk Road was instrumental in this art form."

With a resurgence of interest in sericulture in the region, needle lace remains an integral part of the town's cultural heritage and economy, said Huseyin Tirtil, a needle lace producer and local tour guide.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Turkish): HUSEYIN TIRTIL, Local tour guide
"Over the past decades, local authorities focused on silk production in Nallihan. Therefore, the production of lace needlework has regained momentum."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Ankara.
(XHTV)