Foundations of Our Brand: Cultural Sustainability
- Prickly Pears
- 6 Tem 2024
- 4 dakikada okunur
Güncelleme tarihi: 23 Eyl 2024
Cultural sustainability is about preserving cultural beliefs, practices, and heritage. It focuses on the ability to retain and improve the values and the spirit against all external impacts. Culture is both a driver and enabler of economic, social, and environmental progress. It includes beliefs, morals, methods, institutions, and knowledge passed down through generations. The importance of cultural sustainability lies in its strong influence on society and the continuity of its existence into the future.
Throughout human history, people formed different social groups alongside their evolutionary journey. They constantly moved to avoid danger, find resources, or seek better climates, creating unique communities and cultures wherever they settled. Though they share a common ancestor, these communities and cultures have always differed far and wide. Beliefs, social norms, and traits of certain groups affect daily life aspects like manners, habits, dress, language, religion, art, laws, and morality.
Yes! Globalization has made it much easier to experience different cultures at the end of the day. But unfortunately, this kind of blending threatens cultural diversity, leading to a uniform global culture. This integration has made many areas melting pots, causing cultural assimilation. As dominant cultures often overshadow minor ones, uniformity mounts even further, damaging cultural sustainability.
Culture permeates every aspect of society, from the relics of past generations to the accumulated values and traditions. It can be divided into two equally significant categories that help describe its unique characteristics: "Material" and "Immaterial," as defined by UNESCO. Material culture includes physical objects such as shrines, paintings, buildings, landscapes, and other human-made structures, serving as tangible representations of the culture in a given area. While these objects may have limited social and political utility, they stand as physical landmarks, embodying the cultural significance and meaning created and sustained within the context of that society.
In the Antioch region, many traditional handicraft techniques have been passed down through generations as cultural heritage alongside historical landmarks and ancient ruins. Sadly, the devastating earthquake on February 6th tragically obliterated much of the city, particularly the historical area in The Old City. Officials reported that at least 80 percent of all buildings in Antakya would need to be demolished. The Old City was cherished by its residents and business owners for its multicultural bonds and welcoming attitude towards diverse cultural backgrounds. Despite the destruction of historical sites and the old city, the local people and artisans are working heartily to sustain their businesses. This makes supporting traditional craftsmanship in the region more crucial than ever.
Here are some of the most recognized craftsmanship methods that still sustain in the region;
Sericulture: Since the early 1900s, the Büyükaşık family has been cultivating and producing cocoons in Harbiye. After undergoing 36 stages, the cocoons are transformed into silk fabric. Once the weaving process is completed on the loom, the fabric is boiled, dried, ironed, and then offered for sale.
Peshtemal Weaving: In the towns of Gümüşgöze and Harbiye, almost every household had a handloom up until the late 20th century. Local authentic textiles made of silk and cotton were produced on these looms. This handicraft was one of the most important sources of livelihood for people at that time. Over the years, it has become a profession continued by only a few families.
Cimem Weaving (Wheat Weaving): Cimem is a cultural product knitted with wheat stems unique to Hatay. Although traditionally used to meet daily needs, it has become a prominent part of a custom in rural areas, where it is given to brides-to-be.
Soapmaking: A special kind of soap made from bay leaf and olive oils (also known as laurel soap) is produced in almost every region of Hatay. It is prevalent in the villages of Harbiye, Samandağ, Çekmece, and Antakya (Antioch).
Our inheritance, rich and vibrant across many parts of Anatolia, faces the threat of vanishing under the weight of mass production, economic challenges, and shifting consumption habits. Our mission is to carve out a space for this invaluable legacy in our modern lives, presenting the traditional in a fresh and contemporary way. We seek to share the stories that have emerged from our lands with a new perspective, honoring them with the reverence they deserve. The name "Prickly Pears" for our brand, inspired by the wild fruit that naturally thrives in our region, symbolizes this very aspiration.
We are committed to practicing sustainable production in every possible facet. While we currently refrain from claiming ecological sustainability due to limitations in material control, we passionately embrace the mission of cultural sustainability. We deeply value the unique weaving traditions, local heritage, and the transmission of culture. Our success hinges on our support for traditional methods, specifically by weaving our products on Kara Tezgah looms, and ensuring these techniques are passed down to future generations.
Let us reconsider our perception and treatment of handicrafts, transforming them from mere tourist attractions into integral parts of our homes and daily lives where they truly belong. Remember, a peshtemal is not just a piece of cloth—it is a testament to our past and a beacon for our future!
References
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Culture for Sustainable Development (2020, July 23) from https://en.unesco.org/themes/culture-sustainable-development
Bender, Oliver; Haller, Andreas (2017). "The cultural embeddedness of population mobility in the Alps: Consequences for sustainable development".
Loach, Kirsten; Rowley, Jennifer; Griffiths, Jillian (2017-03-04). "Cultural sustainability as a strategy for the survival of museums and libraries".
Axelsson, Robert; Angelstam, Per; Degerman, Erik; Teitelbaum, Sara; Andersson, Kjell; Elbakidze, Marine; Drotz, Marcus K. (2013-03-01). "Social and Cultural Sustainability: Criteria, Indicators, Verifier Variables for Measurement and Maps for Visualization to Support Planning".
The New York Times By Anjali Singhvi, Bedel Saget, K.K. Rebecca Lai, Yuliya Parshina-Kottas, Sergey Ponomarev and Jeremy White March 22, 2023 from https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/03/22/world/middleeast/turkey-earthquake-antakya.html
HANDCRAFT IN AND AROUND ANTIOCH, Mustafa Kemal University Journal of Social Sciences Institute by Ars. Gör. Aylin ERASLAN 2009
“The Importance of Cultural Sustainability to Achieve the SDGs” https://ied.eu
