In the summer months, the water hyacinths covering the Orontes River turn into works of art in the hands of women

During the summer months in Hatay, water hyacinths covering the Orontes River are woven by women in the district of Iskenderun to turn into works of art after being dried. Products such as baskets, mats, and sieves made from water hyacinths can be used for many years.

Originating from Lebanon and flowing into the Mediterranean Sea in the district of Samandağ in Hatay, the Orontes River is covered with water hyacinths during the summer months. These water hyacinths, which threaten the creatures in the river, are cleaned by municipal teams. Considered useless, the water hyacinths are transformed into works of art by women affected by earthquakes who are trainees at the Hatay Metropolitan Municipality Vocational Training Courses Center (HATMEK). In the course provided in the district of Iskenderun, products such as baskets, mats, and sieves made from water hyacinths can be used for many years. While these women affected by earthquakes earn income through production, they also overcome the psychological effects of earthquakes.

Master instructor Azize Alay stated that water hyacinths are plants that threaten the Orontes River and that these plants are transformed into woven products such as baskets when dried. She explained, ‘Water hyacinth is actually an endemic plant of our Hatay. It is a plant that threatens the Orontes River, usually cleaned from the river by municipal teams. However, in the Far East, a transformation takes place; these are collected, hung upside down in piles, dried, and thus transformed back into products like baskets, mats, and sieves. You can weave anything you can think of. Weaving is easy, like other plants, it is woven by wetting and it is healthy. There is one more step; after the water hyacinth is dried, it is lined up in bundles, covered with canvas, and its natural structure is fixed with an acid, so the plant does not collapse. It is also rid of insects. These types of materials are generally used in kitchens and living rooms. They are waterproof and can last for 25-30 years except in moldy environments. Our region is humid, so it can easily last for 20 years.’

Stating that handicrafts are therapeutic and make her feel happy, 56-year-old earthquake survivor Nesrin Kiremitçi said, ‘The fear of the earthquake pushed us out. During the pandemic, we were inside, but after the earthquake, we had to go outside. We couldn’t enter buildings, but then we realized that this situation couldn’t go on like this. We started to think about what we can do, what we can learn, what we can produce. Luckily, HATMEK provided us with such an opportunity. When our teacher said we could come, we started with water hyacinths. Water hyacinths are such a beautiful material, they turn out very nice and look very elegant. Completely natural, I learned that it grows within our province. It’s a very nice thing, the transformation is very beautiful, moreover, it’s a product that very big brands sell for a lot of money.’