Kandıra Bezi

Kandıra fabric is a traditional woven textile produced in the Kandıra district of Türkiye’s Kocaeli province and registered with a geographical indication. Made from flax, this fabric is a cultural product requiring intensive manual labor and local expertise at every stage of production.

Kandıra Bezi (AA)

From Raw Material to Loom

The primary raw material of Kandıra fabric, flax, is sown in humus-rich soils during autumn and begins to mature in spring. Harvesting is carried out by hand in June and July. The flax fibers, pulled from their roots, are processed through stages including retting, drying, combing and spinning on a spindle to produce yarn. The resulting yarn is woven on looms locally known as “düzen” using the tabby weave technique.

• Yarn Types: Flax yarn (8–14/1 nm), Cotton yarn (16–20/2 nm)
• Sizeing (Haşıllama): A process in which yarns are boiled with flour, soap, starch and oil to enhance their strength and smoothness
• Weaving Technique: Woven using the tabby weave method. Strips of cotton yarn form the left and right edges
• Fabric Dimensions: Width ranges from 42 to 50 cm; length is adjusted according to intended use
• Yarn Density: 12 to 20 threads per square centimeter, varying according to the fabric’s intended application

Kandıra Bezi (AA)

Product Variety

Different products are produced from Kandıra fabric using both fine and coarse yarns:

• From Fine Yarn: Shirts, tea sets, handkerchiefs, nightwear, tablecloths
• From Coarse Yarn: Trousers, kilims, sacks

Among the decorated items, regional embroidery patterns such as “manda gözü” and “sevda çiçeği” stand out. Kandıra fabric is also regarded as the primary source of Şile fabric; while Şile fabric uses cotton yarn, Kandıra fabric exclusively uses flax yarn.

Cultural Context

It is known that until the 1960s, 30 percent of Turkey’s total flax production occurred in Kandıra, and this fabric played a significant role in the livelihood of the local population and in bridal trousseaus.

Kandıra Bezi (AA)

Geographical Boundaries and Regulation of Production

All stages of Kandıra fabric production, except for yarn sourcing, must take place within the boundaries of Kandıra district. Annual inspections are conducted by experts from local public institutions under the coordination of the Kandıra Community Education Center. Products are required to bear the geographical indication mark and the geographical sign logo.