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74-year-old Remzi Kağar, who has been making and selling many models of hats, including octagonal ones, in his tiny workshop in Saraykapı district of Diyarbakir’s Sur district for 65 years, is hopeless about the future of the profession.
TİGRİS HABER- 74-year-old Remzi Kağar, who has been making and selling many models of hats, including octagonal ones, in his tiny workshop in Saraykapı district of Diyarbakir’s Sur district for 65 years, is hopeless about the future of the profession. Stating that there are only two milliners left in the city and that this profession will disappear after them, Remzi Kağar stated that he sends hats to many countries in the world as well as Turkey on order and said: “The state should be masters how these protect us.” “For this profession to survive, courses should be opened and we should be made masters so that this profession does not die out,” he said.
Saraykapı is one of the liveliest districts of historic Suriçi. Activities include the tombs of 27 companions in the inner castle. The Süleyman Mosque also has a great influence. In fact, there was more mobility until the mid-2000s. The reason for this was that there was a prison and a courthouse inside the castle. For this reason, in addition to jobs from all walks of life, Saraykapı also had many law offices, doctor’s offices and the Emek Cinema. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the city used to eat like it was at the Sublime Gate. Because all newspaper and agency offices except Anadolu Agency were on this street. After the Saraykapı, prison and court building were moved, this street was lonely for many years. Hz. We can say that Saraykapı regained its former glory after the Süleyman area was cleared of slums and the public garden was created at the foot of the city walls.
He hasn’t left his street for 65 years
There is a hat maker who has not left Saraykapı for 65 years despite all the adverse circumstances. 74-year-old Remzi Kağar has been making many model hats in his tiny workshop for 65 years, especially the octagonal hats, which were very popular in the past, and continues to sell them to enthusiasts. Mashallah, his memory is also very strong. If you ask, Remzi Kağar knows many of the old craftsmen in Suriçi, especially Saraykapı. Although the number of customers is no longer as great as before, Remzi Kağar, who comes early every day and opens his workshop despite his advanced age, continues to make hats in various models himself. I watch Master Remzi at work and witness how difficult hat making is. To make pants, jackets or suits for people, tailors measure their heights, and milliner Remzi measures their heads and then cuts the fabric accordingly. Master Remzi, who first sews the model on an old pedal sewing machine and then irons it with an iron heated on a picnic tube. The steam created when the hot iron touches the wet fabric spreads throughout the small workshop. This process takes hours. It requires wrist strength. He raises and lowers the heavy iron again and again until the hat has reached the desired consistency.
In our conversation with Master Remzi, he repeatedly reminisces about the old days and tells the history of the hat in the truest sense of the word. Remzi Kağar explained that he founded this company as an apprentice together with his brother in 1959: “After working with my brother for many years and becoming a master, this time I opened my own hat workshop. “I have been making hats in Saraykapı for 65 years,” he says.
Wearing a hat was tradition
Explaining that in the past, almost everyone wore hats, Remzi Kağar said, “In addition to citizens, police officers, soldiers, guards, guards and even high school students also wore hats. Formal hats were common. Wearing a hat was like a tradition. In the past, no one left the house without a hat. Even the testimony of a man without a hat was not accepted. Previously there was only one model. The room represented the region’s octagonal hat model. This model also has differences between the region’s provinces. However, generally it has 8 corners. “The only differences are in the details.”
I have even sent hats to America and Japan
Stating that he sends hats to many provinces of Turkey and many countries in the world and the region, Remzi Kağar said, “If there is demand, I send hats to many provinces of Turkey and many countries in the world and the region. Sometimes people who come from different countries to visit the city find the hats interesting and take them with them. Our citizens from abroad, usually from Turkey, demand this. Sometimes they send their relatives. From here I have sent hats to America, Japan and even China. I can say my hat has gone around the world.”
This profession will die, the state must protect it
Kağar expressed his regret that the hat-making profession had no future and said: “This profession has no future.” For this reason, no one sends their children to apprenticeships. In other words: Young people see no future in this profession. We are the last representatives of this profession. Currently there are only 2 people doing this job in the city. This profession will no longer exist after us. More precisely, there will be no more arts and crafts. Garments are made by hand. The state needs to register masters like me. This profession is a cultural value. The state should at least support us. Municipalities should open courses and tell us: “Come and teach this profession to young people as master trainers.” “Let’s leave this profession to the generations that come after us,” he said.
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