Manisa Bezi (Manisa Fabric) is a hand-woven local fabric consisting of weft and warp with a history of 600 years. The basic yarn is cotton, which is the agricultural product of the fertile Gediz Plain. In the palaces of the Ottoman State 600 years ago, as well as in the clothing of şehzadeler (sultan’s son), the sailboats of the Ottoman State, and the clothing worn by people in their daily homes, were all made of cloth that was woven in Manisa, the City of Şehzadeler. Manisa Bezi, which was produced in this region, met the clothing needs of the şehzadeler of the Ottoman state and the underwear needs in the palace, and by the 1900s, with the evolution of the main source of livelihood of Manisa to agriculture and the development of industry, hand-woven looms began to move away from homes, Manisa Bezi fell into oblivion. Manisa Bezi, which started weaving with the work of Mücebbel Kafkaslı, the President of the Manisa Branch of the Turkish Women’s Council Association at the beginning of the 2000s, came to life again and with this, a new employment door was formed for the local women of Manisa. The primary material of the Manisa Bezi is cotton rope. Twisted cotton rope is used as a weft rope. For warps, 8 or 10 strands of cotton rope, 8 or 10 strands of flush-silk rope are used. Manisa Bezi weaving consists of 50% cotton 50% flush rope. Bezayak consists of knitting tissue. When the woven cloth is washed, the part woven from the cotton thread pulls itself out, the part woven from the flush releases itself. Therefore, it is similar in appearance to knitted fabrics. Manisa Bezi, which dates to the Ottoman Empire and is still in use today, is also used in a wide range of other products, including nightgowns, bindallis, wedding gowns, pilgrim outfits, tablecloths, and shawls. As a result of technological advancement, clothing fabrics are currently being woven in textile factories. Due of this, hand-woven fabrics created on hand looms have begun to be used to create decorative items. The most important ones include different covers, mantelpieces, and decolletages. ‘’Recently, 20 women received training in the courses of the Manisa Metropolitan Municipality. 500 women in total received training. 12 housewives work here to establish a career. Along with these hard-working women, we are producing a variety of clothes and home decorations day and night. When the showroom is established, corporatization will be provided for the sale of our products. Our products are highly appreciated. The guests from America were amazed. They wanted to buy from us. Here, women work like factory workers.’’ says Özkahraman who refers to the importance of Manisa Bezi in terms of women’s employment, they started to pass on this cloth to the next generations, which was about to disappear in the past.
