Vocational School of Justice
SUMERBANK PATTERNS TOURING AROUND TURKEY
Sümerbank fabrics, garments, home textile products, which make up the legacy of industrialization revolution in Turkey, are being exhibited in Ankara. The exhibition on Sümerbank fabrics, which were re-manufactured by Department of Fashion and Textile Design, Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, Izmir University of Economics (IUE), will start on January 12 at Contemporary Arts Center with cooperation of Çankaya Municipality, Ankara.
The fabrics and patterns of Sümerbank’s Halkapınar Textile Printing Factory in Izmir, which shaped the daily wear and clothing culture of Republic of Turkey, were taken under protection at Izmir University of Economics. The exhibition, which includes clothing designs between the years of 1950’s to 1990’s, Sümerbank pajamas, and home textile products, will run through February 12, 2018.
Prof. Dr. Ender Yazgan Bulgun, Dean of IUE Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, reported that there were almost 200 thousand fabrics under the protection of the University. She said, “Our exhibition on archive and fabrics of Sümerbank, which shaped the daywear of Turkish fashion, is set to start in our capital, Ankara following the debuts in Izmir, Aydın, and Bursa. We will draw attention to the legacy of industrialization revolution in Turkey such as the clothing for specific periods we re-printed, Sümerbank pajamas, women’s, men’s, and children’s clothing sawn at Sümerbank factories starting from the 1970’s, kitchen textile products, swatch cards for fabrics, etc.”.
‘Shedding light on history of Turkish textile’
Prof. Dr. Elvan Özkavruk Adanır, Head of IUE Department of Fashion and Textile Design, stated that almost 6 thousand 600 patterns were transferred into digital environment at “www.tudita.com” web address, where the design archive was displayed to visitors. The exhibition focused on a timeline of important events in terms of history of Sümerbank and Turkish fashion occurred at 1930’s to the beginning of 2000’s, reported Prof. Dr. Adanır, and she said, “Sümerbank dressed the whole nation for a specific period. Everyone definitely has a memory regarding this brand. People, who heard about this project, went through their closets and brought objects from Sümerbank and supported our project. We are bringing this history into light again. We want Sümerbank to turn into a lasting museum. We will continue to shed light on the history of Turkish textile”.