Feretiko which is known as Trabzon Linen abroad, in Turkey Rize Fabric is a type of handwoven textile out of hemp threads in Eastern Blacksea Region. It's history goes all the way back to Scythians. In 1960s, before the introduction of tea farming to the region, every household would have a Feretiko loom to weave daily needed cloths.
These garments made of hemp plant were used to make shirts, towels, underclothes and sheets. They were very popular because of no fuzz and fast drying sweat ability. During Ottoman Empire, not only royal residents in palace but regular people from humid regions also showed interest in them.
The word “Feretiko” or “Forotiko” which means “fabric to sew clothing” in Greek of Blacksea dialect, in historic records it is mentioned as the dress of Goddess Attika, “fer-atika” the cloth that keeps her warm.
The fabric of feretiko reflects the geographic traces depending upon where the plant is grown. For instance, high level of salt in places close to rivers and water streams plays significant importance in whitening of the fabric. In regions where the waters saturated with less lime defines characteristic feature of it. The climates with less sun and with lots of rain stop the fiber’s stiffening. That’s why the product is used in rope making in Kastamonu and in thread and cloth in Rize.
The feretiko production is only limited to a handful of ateliers in Rize due to the hemp plantation ban by government and lack of finding raw materials. Feretiko cloth can be woven only 1 meter long in 3 days. The cloth is just 90 cm wide. These are the main reasons that feretiko production is not suitable for fast and large amount peoduction in textile industry.
The final products of Moyy Atölye are made with those cloths in weaving looms to restart the agenda of feretiko’s production process starting from the soil and find its value that it deserves.
The main advantages of Feretiko material:
Natural and healthy cloth, no chemicals are used in production
Absorbs sweat and exhausts
Helps the body warm when cold and cool and breezy when hot
Stops the unwanted body odor due to sweating
Due to its texture, dissolves the accumulated electric of the body
It is thinner and 4 times stronger than linen
Shines and softens as washed
Photography: Yasemin Taşkın
