Tokat Aynalı Çarık

Tokat Aynalı Çarık is a type of shoe unique to the Tokat province that carries both technical and symbolic traces of traditional leather craftsmanship in Anatolia. This product, documented historically as far back as the 18th century, has been officially registered with a geographical indication by the Tokat Provincial Directorate of National Education and must be produced exclusively within the region’s boundaries. Considered a significant representative of material culture, the çarık is valued both for its technical characteristics and its position within folk culture.

Tokat Aynalı Çarık (Anadolu Agency)

Definition and Structural Features

The çarık is a type of footwear made from well-tanned buffalo or cattle leather, typically formed by folding a single piece of leather and securing it around the ankle with thongs or leather straps. In the Tokat Aynalı Çarık, this basic form has been diversified in terms of decoration and design:

• Sole: Thick cowhide or buffalo leather.
• Upper: Black or dark-colored cowhide or sheepskin.
• Lining: Raw or untanned leather.
• Decoration: Colorful elements such as mirrors, beads, tassels, and pom-poms placed on the front surface.
• Fastening: Leather straps or thongs threaded through holes along the sides to secure the shoe around the ankle.

There are three main types commonly found in Tokat: thonged çarık, mirror-decorated çarık, and buckle-decorated çarık. The mirror-decorated and buckle-decorated varieties are predominantly worn by women, while the thonged type is preferred by men.

Production Techniques and Stages

The production process is entirely manual. Leather pieces are cut using specific templates. The sole and upper parts are bonded with glue, then stitched together using cotton thread treated with wax and passed through holes punched with a awl. The traditional tools used in production include:

• Anvil and Mallet: For straightening stitches and shaping the leather.
• Needle and Awl: For joining the parts.
• Leather cutting knife and scraper: For shaping the leather.
• Danalya and Puller: For fitting the shoe onto the last.
• Rotary punch and sandpaper: For preparing surfaces for decoration.
• Endaze: For measuring according to foot size.

In the mirror-decorated type, the mirror placed inside the lining is secured with a button. Decorative elements such as pom-poms are attached by punching holes with a punch.

Historical and Cultural Background

Shoemaking in Anatolia has a history spanning four thousand years. Shoe forms resembling the çarık appear in reliefs from the 14th century BCE at Alacahöyük. Introduced to Anatolia with the Seljuks, çarıks diversified during the Ottoman period and were systematically produced within craft guilds.

The cultural significance of the çarık extends beyond functionality. In Tokat, brides wearing mirror-decorated çarıks were believed to have an enhanced ability to see their surroundings, carrying both aesthetic and ritual value. In folk literature, the expression “to have one’s feet in çarıks” symbolizes migration from village to city, while the term “çarıklı” itself refers to poverty. The çarık has left a broad cultural imprint, appearing in folk songs, poems, and oral traditions.

Linguistic Origins and Geographic Spread

The word “çarık” has been adopted from Turkish into Balkan and Persian languages, appearing in various forms such as çarog, şoru, and sarok. Another theory suggests the term entered Turkish from Persian. Geographically, it has been used across a wide area stretching from the Taurus Mountains to Anatolia. Production also occurred in other centers such as Sivas, Amasya, and Zara, outside of Tokat.

Contemporary Status and Preservation Efforts

With the Industrial Revolution, factory-made footwear pushed traditional çarık production into the background, leaving handcrafted production to only a small number of artisans. In Tokat today, production is largely sustained for tourist and decorative purposes. Master craftsmen residing in historic centers such as Taş Han continue to preserve this craft.

The product is protected under a geographical indication, with inspections conducted at least once a year under the coordination of the Tokat Provincial Directorate of National Education. These inspections evaluate production techniques, decorative elements, and the correct use of official marks.