In Southern Türkiye, Thousands of Carpets Age Under the Summer Sun
In Southern Türkiye, Thousands of Carpets Age Under the Summer Sun
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Thousands of carpets and kilim rugs, spread out like a kaleidoscopic patchwork under the sun, cover vast fields on the outskirts of Antalya, a coastal city in southern Türkiye. This striking display is the final stage of an aging tradition where the sun is used to perfect the famed textiles.
From June to September, merchants bring their cargo of carpets from across Türkiye to harvested fields in the Dosemealti district. Here, the rugs are left to age in the sun for three months, a process designed to temper the bright hues of their natural colors and cleanse them of any undesirable elements.
Hasan Topkara is one of the last practitioners of this craft. His process is meticulous: wool knotted carpets and rugs are washed, dried, and their fringes and stray strands are trimmed if necessary. They are then spread out on the bare ground.
The combination of the morning dew and the intense heat of the day works to soften the wool, which is colored with natural vegetable dyes, and fade the shades into softer, pastel tones.
According to Topkara, this tradition has seen a significant decline. In the past, he noted, as many as 60,000 carpets could be processed during a single three-month drying season in the district. Today, his operation is one of the last, managing around 15,000 carpets spread side by side over a 40-hectare area.
A dedicated team of around 50 workers monitors the valuable inventory day and night, turning the carpets regularly. The process is highly dependent on the weather. In the event of rain, about 100 people from nearby villages are rushed in to help fold the carpets. Everything must be secured in a sheltered location within 45 minutes, and then laid out again once the rain stops.
After the carpets have reached the desired shade, most are transported to Istanbul and its historic Grand Bazaar. From there, they are frequently shipped abroad to international customers.
Over the years, Topkara's vibrant fields have also become an unintentional tourist attraction. Their popularity grew, especially after Turkish pop singer Mabel Matiz filmed a music video for his song "Sarmasik" among the carpets in 2018.
A dog lies on handwoven carpets laid out in the open fields to soften their colours under sizzling sun in Dosemealti district in Antalya on July 22, 2025. (AFP)An aerial view shows a tractor passing next to handwoven carpets laid out in the open fields to soften their colours under sizzling sun in Dosemealti district in Antalya on July 22, 2025. (AFP)A worker holds an handwoven carpet laid out in an open field to soften its colours under sizzling sun in Dosemealti district in Antalya on July 22, 2025. (AFP)An aerial view shows handwoven carpets laid out in the open fields to soften their colours under sizzling sun in Dosemealti district in Antalya on July 22, 2025. (AFP)An aerial view shows handwoven carpets laid out in the open fields to soften their colours under sizzling sun in Dosemealti district in Antalya on July 22, 2025. (AFP)An aerial view shows handwoven carpets laid out in the open fields to soften their colours under sizzling sun in Dosemealti district in Antalya on July 22, 2025. (AFP)An aerial view shows handwoven carpets laid out in the open fields to soften their colours under sizzling sun in Dosemealti district in Antalya on July 22, 2025. (AFP)A worker and her dog walk on handwoven carpets laid out in the open fields to soften their colours under sizzling sun in Dosemealti district in Antalya on July 22, 2025. (AFP)A worker holds an handwoven carpet laid out in an open field to soften its colours under sizzling sun in Dosemealti district in Antalya on July 22, 2025. (AFP)Workers hold an handwoven carpet laid out in an open field to soften its colours under sizzling sun in Dosemealti district in Antalya on July 22, 2025. (AFP)An aerial view shows handwoven carpets laid out in the open fields to soften their colours under sizzling sun in Dosemealti district in Antalya on July 22, 2025. (AFP)A worker holds an handwoven carpet laid out in an open field to soften its colours under sizzling sun in Dosemealti district in Antalya on July 22, 2025. (AFP)An aerial view shows handwoven carpets laid out in the open fields to soften their colours under sizzling sun in Dosemealti district in Antalya on July 22, 2025. (AFP)An aerial view shows handwoven carpets laid out in the open fields to soften their colours under sizzling sun in Dosemealti district in Antalya on July 22, 2025. (AFP)Thousands of carpets and kilims spread out in the sun form a festive and colourful patchwork on the outskirts of Antalya, the large coastal tourist city in southern Türkiye. (AFP)Thousands of carpets and kilims spread out in the sun form a festive and colourful patchwork on the outskirts of Antalya, the large coastal tourist city in southern Türkiye. (AFP)Thousands of carpets and kilims spread out in the sun form a festive and colourful patchwork on the outskirts of Antalya, the large coastal tourist city in southern Türkiye. (AFP)Thousands of carpets and kilims spread out in the sun form a festive and colourful patchwork on the outskirts of Antalya, the large coastal tourist city in southern Türkiye. (AFP)Thousands of carpets and kilims spread out in the sun form a festive and colourful patchwork on the outskirts of Antalya, the large coastal tourist city in southern Türkiye. (AFP)
