Zilli 地毯 by Begum Karadag is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award 铜奖 in 文化遗产与文化产业设计 Competition Category.

铜文化遗产· 2025

Zilli 地毯

by Begum Karadag

Client: Buruz Design

A' Design Award 铜奖 Winner in 文化遗产 Category

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Colors

The Design

About Zilli 地毯

Zilli 将传统织造工艺与后现代线条融为一体。这款地毯采用土耳其地理标志织造技艺手工编织而成，纹样在织造过程中以"吉吉姆"（Cicim）技法同步绣入，而非后期加工，这正是该织物区别于其他织品最为独特的细节所在。这些纹样同样拥有地理标志认证。在Zilli地毯的制作中，我们选用了其中五种纹样，它们的名称与寓意分别为：马蹄铁（有情人终成眷属）、狗爪（幸福与富足）、蝎子（辟邪驱恶）、三叶草（幸运）、苍耳（丰饶）。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 铜奖

Zilli 地毯是 A' Design Award 铜奖得主，这是授予以创造力、独创性和敏锐见长的杰出设计的极具声望的认可。铜奖得主是技艺娴熟、创意惊人的作品，印证了其设计师丰富的经验、想象力与机智。预计Zilli 地毯将成为一件备受推崇、令人钦佩且被珍爱的物品，兼具显著的专业性与创新性。这件赢得 A' Design Award 铜奖的设计融入艺术、科学、设计和技术领域的最佳实践，并因注重细节而出类拔萃。Zilli 地毯出色地满足需求，触动渴望，迷住情感，并吸引好奇心。

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.