Meet Halime: A Female Artisan of Turkey

Meet Halime, a joy filled wife and mother of three. She has a smile that lights up the room and a laugh that is contagious. She enjoys cooking for family and friends, sitting on her balcony while looking out at the mountains, and sewing.

Although the origins of lace are unknown, it was popularized along ancient trade routes on which Halime’s family has lived and traded for generations. Brought up in a traditional home in Van, Eastern Turkey, Halime learned to sew lace at a young age from her mother. Although she wanted to continue in school, as the oldest of eight she began caring for her siblings and learning how to sew.

Known in Turkey as dantel, this needle lace method of sewing is known as the “height of lace making.” At first, Halime found sewing to be difficult and tedious, taking hours to make even the simplest of things. However, as she progressed, she began to enjoy sewing. Eventually she was able to make tablecloths and coverings to support her family.

After she married, she continued in this trade, though it was often difficult to receive the wages she was owed for her work. One evening while visiting with a foreign family that had moved next door, they remarked on how beautiful her sewing is and asked if she could sew different designs. Having sketched out on a piece of paper design ideas, Halime began sewing a variety of different designs for this family and other visitors. She was delighted by how they appreciated her craft and paid her fairly. After many years of sewing, Halime has truly mastered this craft and is able to sew everything from small ornaments to tablecloths and curtains.

Halime is working towards beginning an artisan group in her community. It is her hope to help the many women who know this trade and to teach others as well. She already has women who are able to sew alongside her and hopes that many more would be able to join. She believes this to be a great way to benefit her local community and share the art of needle lace with the world.

It was truly a privilege to be welcomed into the home and life of Halime and even join her family in celebrating a wedding. Halime has not only mastered the art of sewing but of traditional dancing as well!

Weddings are always an occasion to dress up!

If you would like to contact Halime, you can find her here on Instagram.

To our friends in the West, keep looking East!

Rebekah Harper

Rebekah loves claiming Birmingham, Alabama as her hometown, though she has learned that home can be anywhere. With half of her life spent in North Africa and Europe and the other half on the West Coast (USA), it can be said that she has grown adept at fitting in everywhere but belonging to nowhere. However, over the past couple of years Turkey has captivated her attention. She loves the adventure of exploring new places but even more so the people and stories she has come to cherish along the way.