Vocational School of Justice
CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION OF HEIRLOOM TEXTILES
Textile objects left to perish are returning to life. 100 to 150 year old textile objects such as carpets, bedspreads, curtains, embroidered bundles, etc. are being conserved at Izmir University of Economics (IUE) by the Department of Textile Conservation, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Finland. Weak and damaged parts of the objects are being salvaged and conserved.
Prof. Dr. Elvan Özkavruk Adanır, Head of Department of Fashion and Textile Design, Izmir University of Economics (IUE), stated that the studios within the department were assigned to the Finnish team of conservators for a month. Prof. Dr. Adanır said, “The team from Finland is working on a group of textiles in particular, which bear embroideries from the Ottoman period. They are conserving without changing the unique features of the textiles. They are dealing with very old objects, some of which were used as clothing items, and then turned into throws, spreads for various purposes. These textiles are made of natural textile fibers such as silk, cotton, and wool and they are destined to perish. With the process they go through here, their life is being extended.”
‘24 heirloom textiles salvaged’
Anna Hakari, Head of Department of Textile Conservation, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Finland, stated that Turkey has a rich past when it comes to textile. Hakari said, “In the first year, we did the archiving and the damage assessment. We conserved 24 different textile objects up until now. We are currently working on, and hope to complete, another 10 products. Since, majority of these textiles are very damaged and old, we washed and cleaned them, and tried to salvage them. It takes hours to extend the life of textile one by one by working elaborately and carefully. We stay true to the original".