Zilli Alfondra by Begum Karadag is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Brontzezko Saria A' Design Award in Kultur Ondare eta Kultura Industriaren Diseinua Competition Category.

BrontzeKultur Ondarea· 2025

Zilli Alfondra

by Begum Karadag

Client: Buruz Design

Brontzezko Saria A' Design Award Winner in Kultur Ondarea Category

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Colors

The Design

About Zilli Alfondra

Zilli ehunketa tradizionalaren eta lerro postmodernoen nahasketa da. Alfondra eskuz ehundua da Turkiako jatorri-izendapen geografikoa duen ehunketa teknika erabiliz. Motiboak Cicim teknikarekin brodatu ziren ehunketaren garaian. Ez da ondorengo prozesamendua. Hau da ehunketa besteetatik bereizten duen xehetasunik bereziena. Motiboek ere jatorri-izendapen geografikoa dute. Motibo hauetatik bost erabili genituen Zilli alfondra ekoiztean. Motibo hauen izenak eta esanahiak hauek dira: ferra (maitale-batasuna), txakur-atzaparra (zoriona, ugaritasuna), eskorpioia (gaiztakeriatik babesa), hirusta (zortea), abroioa (ugaritasuna).

The Recognition

About the Brontzezko Saria A' Design Award

Zilli Alfondra Brontzezko Saria A' Design Award irabazlea da, sormenak, asmamenak eta zorroztasunak bereizten dituzten diseinu bikainei ematen zaien aitorpen oso prestijiotsua. Brontze-mailako irabazleak trebetasunez beteriko eta nabarmenki sortzaileak diren artefaktuak dira, beren diseinatzaileen esperientzia zabala, irudimena eta ekimena egiaztatzen dutenak. Zilli Alfondra oso estimatua, miretsia eta maitea den objektua izatea espero da, nabarmenki profesionala eta berritzailea dena. Brontzezko Saria A' Design Award irabazi duen diseinu honek artearen, zientziaren, diseinuaren eta teknologiaren praktika onenak biltzen ditu eta xehetasunei ematen dien arretagatik bikaina da. Zilli Alfondra beharrak bikain asetzen dituen, desirak ukitzen dituen, sentimenduak xarmatzen dituen eta jakin-mina erakartzen duen lana da.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Zilli is a blend of traditional weaving with postmodern lines. The rug is hand-woven using Turkey's geographically marked Karacakilavuz Weaving Technique. It has geographically marked motifs with five different meanings. The motifs were embroidered during weaving with the Cicim Technique, which is not considered as a post processing. This is the most important aspect that distinguishes this weaving technique from others.
Dimensions & Packaging: Width 240 cm x Depth 280 cm x Height 1 cm. Since the product is handmade, these dimensions may change each time a production is completed. It is also possible to produce in different sizes. Package size is 80cmx40cmx60cm.
Tags: artisan, craft, rug, design, anatolian, woman, natural dye, sustainable
Production Technology: The production was made with the Karacakilavuz Weaving technique and produced in Tekirdag province of Turkey. Weaving is done on four-pedal and four texsolv heddles oak looms. The ground of the weave is twill weaving, motifs are processed with the Cicim Technique during the weaving. The wool is colored entirely with vegetable dyes and natural undyed cotton warp thread was used in its warp.
Three weaving pieces are produced separately and hand-embroidered using the crochet stitches. Back side cleaning process is done with a crochet hook and scissors. Three wings are joined together asymmetrically with a knitted wool chain. A lining fabric containing cotton is added to prevent the back of the fabric from being exposed. Finally, each rug fringe at the end of the rug is hand-attached to finish the product.
Design Challenge: This design is far from the usual traditional lines while bringing this first innovation with preserving the traditional technique and motifs. In traditional, the motifs had an intricate structure and all motifs were evaluated separately. Their stories are individual but they whisper a story in general. At the same time, its production required precision. It made difficult for our team who had never worked with milimeters before. However it gave people pleasure with its colors and patterns, it began to be known in the workshop as '' Zilli '', a somewhat a joyful name, this gave the rug.
Research: We learned from the locals about the history of the weaving technique with geographical indication mark. We took old weavings that were used hundreds of years ago in the village and could not be preserved in good conditions from the houses. In this way, we also closely examined how the weaving technique was used in the past. We have measured dimensions of yarn's arrangement and placements of the threads at each pedal stages. Then we have recreated the weaving based on our measurements.
Inspiration: This weaving technique dates back centuries. Its name is Karacakilavuz Weaving Technique and it is unique to Tekirdag/Turkey and geographically marked. However, not all Karacakilavuz Weavings have survived to the present day. Zilli aims to revive this lost weaving technique from its ashes. With this design, a completely different interpretation has been brought by using exactly the same weaving technique and motifs. The motifs on it describe fertility and the bitter and sweet aspects of life.
Project Duration: Karacakilavuz Weaving Technique, which is the core technique of weaving the product, belongs to the Tekirdag province of Turkey. It is only allowed to be produced only in Tekirdag. For this reason, the production of the rug was made in Buruz's own workshop in Tekirdag province of Turkey. Buruz's workshop is the first production workshop opened in Turkey, providing sustainable women employment for Karacakilavuz Weaving. The production period takes approximately one month (the stage of dyeing the ropes with plants is not taken into account).
Operation Flow: The product is designed as a floor rug. It is produced in Buruz's workshop in approximately one month, using completely environmentally sustainable materials. The sale and promotion of the product is made on Buruz's website or other sales points. Since it is a custom made product, it can only be produced as a limited edition. Due to its production feature, it is not a mass production item. The rugs production can be organized upon the order.
Patents: trademark registration number: 2021 102712
Team Members: Begum Karadag
Image Credits: The photos in pdf format were taken by Begum Karadag.
The other photos were taken by Tekirdag Municipality press officers.