51³Ô¹ÏÍø

LEIDEN, NETHERLANDS - FEBRUARY 7: A textile research center of Leiden University in the Netherlands collects many various textile products and clothes that reflect the cultures of the countries, including Anatolia. The center conducts research on the place and role of clothing, accessories and textile products, brought together from different parts of the world. In the center, there are more than 37,000 clothing and accessory samples, including many works from Islamic geography, Anatolia, Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and America. The items in the clothing collection at the center are usually collected through donations according to Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood, the Director of Textile Research Center. Vogelsang-Eastwood pointed out that the clothes reflect the spirit of the time they are used and are part of the cultural heritage, carrying many stories in it. Stating they have a rich socks collection, she said people in Anatolia wear different socks according to their place in society. “You know where it came from, you know who wear it or where is it? Are they men, women, nomads, villages? What is social status? Are they looking for a husband? All this type of information is comprehended in the clothes in the people wear,� she said. “The collection consists of many different countries and in fact, we would like to have every single country in the world represented in it. It goes from pre-history to the present day. So, the oldest textile that we have in the collection it is actually Anatolian and comes from Turkey,� she added. Stressing that the oldest piece in the collection is from Catalhoyuk in Turkiye's Konya, Vogelsang-Eastwood said, the fabric dates back 7,000 years. (Footage by Selman Aksunger /Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)