Handan Tufan / JINHA

IZMIR – Dilek Dağ who maintains her living by felt production, said that the felt business was in danger of extinction but then ”they combined it with silk and it becomes popular and women want to know more about this business.

“As the oldest textile material in known history, felt is made of fibers matted together to form a single layer. Felting causes the fibers to bond and cling to each other and make various forms. Thus, messy and unstable fibers can bring together into something that can be used in daily life. Since the discovery and development of synthetics technology in the last century, with petrochemical products providing the substitution of natural fibers, the felts are being used in many areas such as electronics, home textile, automotive, and construction. Especially in recent years, with the rapidly increasing use in leisure pursuits and giftware, felt is also manufactured by women in Tire, Izmir. Dilek Dağ, who earned her living by felt production, she gave information about her work.

‘When it was combined with silk, everyone started to buy it’

Dilek explained that they combined the felt with silk. When we produce like that everyone starts to buy them. We produced them only for our village in the past. I combine it with the silk then I shape it. We melt the olive oil soap then we pour it on our works. Thus, silk and felt bond together, she said.

‘Women will bring more’

Dilek described how the felt business had been in danger of extinction, but then they combined it with silk and it became popular. ”Young people show great interest in this profession. We will teach that to next generation. Especially women want to know more about this job. They Do their utmost to prevent the disappearance of Felt. Women will bring more of this profession,” she said.

‘Quite healthy’

Dilek says that people are becoming more aware of felt, ”In particular, I can say that women were aware of the felt”. Due to the structure of the fabric, the felt consists of materials that keep warm in winter and cool in the summer. ”It is quite healthy. It is also a step ahead compared to other fabrics on paint and shape,” she said.

(gd)