The last hallaç master: He has been trying to keep the profession alive since he was 14


Bilal Yayla, who said, "Even though I wanted to quit, the profession did not leave me alone," stated that he started the profession at a young age and said, "I am sixty-seven years old. I started this job when I was 14. My father did not send me to school, he gave me an apprenticeship to a quilt maker. I wanted to quit, but the profession did not leave me alone. I am still continuing. May God bless us, this is how we were destined."

Yayla, who stated that the previously hand-made woolen work has now become easier with the help of machines, expressed his concerns about the future of the profession, saying, "We used to hand-made woolen work, now that machines have come along, our job has become easier. But there are no apprentices. There is no one after us. No one says, 'Teacher, train me, let me learn this job, I can earn a living'. Only we are left," and drew attention to the danger of the profession being forgotten.

Bilal Yayla also drew attention to the health benefits of cotton and wool quilts and said, "Wool quilts keep you warm in winter and cool in summer. Wool quilts also relieve fatigue. If people are still tired and sleepy no matter how much they sleep today, the main reason for this is that beds and quilts are not made of wool. Those who sleep on wool beds and quilts are more vigorous and healthy. It is only necessary to empty the wool in the summer, wash it and refill it. This is our job."

Yayla also emphasized that the widespread use of orthopedic beds and fiber quilts has negatively affected their business, and said that there has been a renewed focus on wool and cotton products in recent years, which has kept the profession afloat.
ntv