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6 reasons to attend Istanbul Carpet Week, 25-29 October 2018

September 26, 2018

COVER are looking forward to attending Istanbul Carpet Week, organised by IHIB (Istanbul Carpet Exporters’ Association), as media partners, 25-29 October 2018. Here are 6 reasons why the event should be on your agenda too.

At the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Istanbul is one of the world’s oldest centres for weaving and rug trading. Several elements combine to make Istanbul Carpet Week 2018 an extremely attractive prospect for anyone with an interest in Turkish heritage, interior design, the craft of hand-weaving or simply taking a satisfying weekend city-break. COVER are looking forward to attending the event, organised by IHIB (Istanbul Carpet Exporters’ Association), as media partners, 25-29 October. Here are 6 reasons why this year’s Istanbul Carpet Week should be on your agenda too.

A limited number of international rug buyers visiting for the first time have the opportunity to benefit from complimentary travel and accommodation. Plus, returning visitors will be offered accommodation and transfers too. Space is limited to qualifying buyers and is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The booking deadline is 8 October 2018. Read the full programme here.

Contact COVER magazine’s Kinga Bajerska at kinga.bajerska@hali.com to apply or find out more.

Erika Kurtz's design process at New Moon Rugs

Erika Kurtz’s design process at New Moon Rugs

Istanbul Carpet Conference
COVER Editor, Lucy Upward will deliver a talk on ‘Future Thinking: Design and Interiors’ alongside US brand New Moon’s Erika Kurtz on ‘Keeping the Art of Design in the Digital Age’. These forward looking topics will be complimented by four presentations on historic Turkish carpets—Belkıs Balpınar on ‘Divrigi Mosque Carpets’; Suzan Bayraktaroğlu on ‘Kilims of the Vakıflar Museum Collection’; Alberto Boralevi on ‘Turkish Carpets in Italy’ and Ali Riza Tuna on ‘Anatolian Carpets in the Western World’: A Story of Mutual Influences over the Ages’—and there is no better setting to hear them.

Istanbul Rug Show

Istanbul Rug Show

Istanbul Rug Show
The full range of Turkish weaving potential is showcased under one roof over three days, with producers, dealers and co-operatives presenting the best rugs, materials and skills available in Turkey today, making this week the easiest time to get a handle on what craftsmen and businesses across the country can offer the international market. There will also be two talks held on Saturday 27 October—Rob Leahy of Fine Rugs of Charleston on ‘The Handmade Carpet in the 21st Century’ and Reto Aschwanden of Label STEP on ‘Refugees Welcome: Migrants’ Contribution to Weaving.’

The 12th National Carpet Design Contest

The 12th National Carpet Design Contest

The 12th National Carpet Design Contest
This well-established competition celebrates the best young talent emerging from Turkish universities right now. The prestigious awards ceremony proves the continued importance of carpets in this part of the world and encourages local designers to bring fresh vision to the fore.

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Exhibition
A special installation of Anatolian kilims from the Vakıflar Kilim Museum collection will open on 25 October 2018 in a newly restored section of the Vakıflar Halı Müzesi (Carpet Museum), a building that acted as the Hagia Sophia treasury for many centuries, close to the Topkapı Palace.

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Modern Istanbul
Istanbul’s rich history is not the only cultural draw. The once-sleepy Asian side of the Bosphorus is fast building a reputation as a lively creative hub. One can find galleries and artisan workshops in the Üsküdar district, while liberal Kadıköy-Moda is building a reputation for its cutting edge bars and music venues—leading one British visitor to Istanbul Carpet Week last year to describe the neighbourhood as a ‘Turkish Shoreditch’.

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Historic Istanbul
The incredible layers of history entrenched in this key site are in evidence in Sultanahmet’s Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern, as well as the Grand Bazaar. With archaeological investigations continuing right beneath the city streets year on year, more and more fascinating detail is emerging as to the complex social history of the city—once at the heart of the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires— as a recent BBC documentary unveiled.

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