The Kalçin culture is a living embodiment of a deep-rooted heritage that dates back to the Hun period in Central Asia. This tradition, which began with the Pazırık Sock, spread along migration routes to Anatolia and the Balkans and has continued to thrive in the culture of the village of Kınalı in North Macedonia. Ümmühan Yılmaz aims not only to preserve this ancient heritage but also to reinterpret it through a modern design perspective, bringing it into harmony with contemporary aesthetics.

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Combining her traditional weaving knowledge with a modern design approach through her studies in the Department of Art, Design, Carpet, Kilim, and Traditional Textile Design at Sakarya University, Yılmaz strives to rethink the warmth and craftsmanship of the kalçin by using contemporary forms and sustainable materials. The question, “How does the kalçin culture—which carries the warmth of the past, migrations, and memories—find its place in today’s minimalist design world?” forms the starting point of this project.

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Developed with support from TÜBİTAK, this exhibition project narrates the story of the kalçin, spanning from Hun kurgans to the present day, and its transformation within the modern design process. The aim is to make this traditional craft visible in the international design world and to carry the unique design language born from these lands into the future.

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This exhibition is both a tribute to the past and a design manifesto for the future.