Keeping the Gömbe Sandal Tradition Alive in Fethiye

Keeping the Gömbe Sandal Tradition Alive in Fethiye

In a tiny 5-square-metre workshop in Fethiye’s Cumhuriyet neighborhood, the steady rhythm of hammer on leather signals a craft that has survived centuries. Here, Tunahan Uysal, a shoe repairer and Traditional Handicrafts Artist with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, works to preserve the gömbe sandal, a symbol of Yörük culture and an enduring piece of Turkish heritage. Uysal begins his day at dawn, crafting sandals and yemeni shoes to order. …