Thousands of carpet enthusiasts in the USA have their eyes on this field

In Antalya, more than 20,000 hand-woven carpets and kilims collected from all over Turkey are being laid out on fields where wheat is sown in winter to be restored and rid of microbes. The carpets, which create a visual feast by pastelizing in the sun on the fields, are exported to the USA, accounting for 99% of the total production.

In the district of Döşemealtı, fields where wheat is sown in winter are opened to carpet factories for harvest in the summer. Landowners or factories repair the carpets and kilims, some of which have a history of a hundred years, first, then immerse them in sterile pools to eliminate microbes. Afterwards, the colors of the carpets and kilims are faded and transformed into pastels by exposing them to the sun. More than 20,000 carpets and kilims that create a visual feast in the fields are regularly turned to ensure proper absorption of moisture and heat, as well as the stabilization of color tones under the sun. These hand-woven carpets and kilims, which turn the area they are spread on into a ‘carpet field,’ are rid of microbes and have their color tones settled under the sun before being provided to customers mainly in the USA and some points in Europe.

“We use carpets in summer and wheat in winter”
Hasan Topkara, a carpet business owner, stated that they will lay out nearly 15,000 carpets this year and talked about the processes they carry out. Topkara said, “Our fields are never empty. We use carpets in summer and wheat in winter. First, we clean the moths and burn their backs. Then we disinfect them and pastelize their colors in the sun. We collect our products before it rains. We constantly monitor the meteorology,” he said.
Topkara pointed out that all carpets are handmade products collected from all over Turkey, and added, “After the process is completed, they are sent to Istanbul. 99% of them are sold abroad. They are mostly sold to America, but there are also buyers from Europe.”

“Customers in the USA say sunbathed carpets fit well with decoration”
Halil Börekçi, who has been engaged in carpet weaving for 50 years, stated the following:
“Foreign substances soften due to the heat. The dew in the morning softens the carpet, and then evaporates into steam with the heat of midday, cleaning the microbes. They are dyed with natural dyes, woolen carpets and kilims. There is no synthetic material in them. We mostly sell to the USA. A small amount goes to Europe. Customers demand these processes. Customers in the USA and Europe say that sunbathed carpets fit well with decoration and sell faster.”