He left behind 59 years in the profession: Now he can't find an apprentice to train

Despite her advancing age, Topkara continues to deliver the quilts she makes to her customers, but cannot find apprentices to pass on her almost forgotten handicraft to future generations.

Ali Topkara stated that he has been making a living thanks to this profession since he was 13 years old and that he has been sewing wool quilts, pillows and beds for years.

Topkara, noting that quilting requires a great deal of patience, said, "The state has exempted 20 professions from taxes. Currently, we don't pay taxes because it's a handicraft. We don't know how far it will go. I've been doing this for 59 years. Those who aren't patient can't do it. Now, there's no one coming after you. Get a kid here; you can't stop them; there's no way."

"I'M SORRY THAT THE PROFESSION IS DYING"

Topkara recalled that when he opened his business, wool quilts were in high demand and he employed 2-3 people.

Topkara explained that demand is now almost non-existent and the number of quilt makers has decreased significantly over time, adding that the apprentices or journeymen he taught the craft have also turned to other professions.

Topkara emphasized that many professions are at risk of extinction due to the lack of apprentices, saying, "I'm saddened by the fact that this profession is slowly dying. There's no one coming after it. What will these people earn their living on? That's another issue. Culture is disappearing. Entire professions are dying out. Repairmen, quilt makers, tailors are dying out."

Topkara stated that the state should help train apprentices in every profession that is about to be forgotten, and concluded his words as follows:

"If the state intervenes, they open a place, train an apprentice, and this business will work. In other words, if the state doesn't support this, this one will die tomorrow too. We are the last generation anyway. There's no one after him. My master died, and we will die too. There's no one coming after him. The value of our quilts is known abroad, but we don't. We don't develop it, we don't do it."