Üzümlü Dastar – A Local Craft

When we posted about the Üzümlü Mushroom Festival, I mentioned that the whole event was a great opportunity for Üzümlü to show itself off to all the visitors who attended the three-day event. So, not only were we treated to a feast of morel mushrooms, but we got a chance to view a local craft that Üzümlü is perhaps most famous for.

A dastar loom in Üzümlü

Dastar is a cotton woven fabric, and many families in Üzümlü make their living by weaving the fabric on these looms and making it into tablecloths, scarves and clothing. When we were at the mushroom festival, local families were displaying their dastar creations by draping them over walls and hanging them from washing lines.

Dastar on display in Üzümlü

Weaving dastar was a dying skill in Üzümlü but efforts have been made of late to keep the skill alive and promote the goods. Certainly while we were at the mushroom festival, local Fethiye people were appreciating the creations and buying various items; great for the local economy and encouraging to see people appreciating their local, traditional crafts.

This lady invited us inside to watch her weaving dastar

If you visit the Fethiye area, dastar makes a perfect souvenir. It’s traditional, handmade (probably in the home you buy it from if you make your purchase in Üzümlü), good value and it’s easy to pack into your suitcase when you’re going home. At the mushroom festival, some of the small table runners were selling for as little as 10 lira so your local souvenir isn’t going to break the bank. Go on! Treat yourself…