Sakarya Broom

Sakarya Broom is a natural and recyclable hand broom produced by local artisans using the flower spikes of broom sorghum, a plant native to the boundaries of Sakarya Province, through traditional methods. This craft, shaped by the region’s cultural heritage, has been passed down from generation to generation.

The broom-making tradition brought by migrants who settled in Sakarya after the 1912 Balkan Wars gradually integrated with the local fabric and evolved into a deeply rooted production culture.

The Sakarya Broom Traders’ Exchange, established in 1957, played a pioneering role in organizing the profession. Broom production became widespread around commercial centers in Adapazarı such as the Chamber of Commerce and the Old Garages, and over time this craft became an integral part of the city’s economy. Today, production continues within the Broom Makers’ Site located in the Agricultural Tools Industrial Zone.

The craft persists through a combination of traditional and modern methods, with knowledge transmitted from father to son and master to apprentice. However, technological advancements and changing cleaning habits have led to a decline in the number of master artisans practicing this trade.

^{Sakarya Broom} (AA)

The raw material for the Sakarya Broom is Broom Sorghum (Latin: Sorghum vulgare var. technicum), a plant cultivated in Sakarya’s soils whose flower spikes are used for broom production. Its grains are used as bird feed.

The production process of broom sorghum consists of the following steps:

• Sowing is done in April using a hand plow.
• Harvesting takes place in August, either by hand or with tractor equipment.
• The harvested plants are spread on the ground and dried in the sun.
• The seeds are separated, and the stalks are sorted by length.
• The stalks are processed into broom bristles and prepared for production.

The production of the Sakarya Broom consists of four main stages:

1. Broom bristles are sorted and grouped by length.
2. The bristles are bundled into small clusters known as “yavru” to form the initial shape.
3. The handle is shaped and nodes are prepared.
4. The body is stitched using “tekleme” and “çiftleme” sewing techniques.

Pre-production treatments:

• Broom grasses are moistened.
• Sulfur fumigation is applied to preserve color and maintain flexibility.
• The bristles are shaped using tools such as mallets, foot presses, and spinning wheels.

^{Sakarya Broom Production Stage} (AA)

The Sakarya Broom consists of the following parts:

• Handle: Designed for comfortable grip, with 4–9 nodes; each node is wrapped at least three times with galvanized wire.
• Body: Features a stitched construction with horizontal stitches known as “tekleme” and “çiftleme”.
• Fork: A supporting structure between the handle and body; found in forked varieties.

• Weight: 600–800 grams
• Length: 60–70 centimeters
• Handle: 7–9 nodes
• Stitching: 1 tekleme, 1 çiftleme

• Weight: 200–350 grams
• Length: 30–45 centimeters
• Handle: 4–6 nodes
• Stitching: 3 çiftleme

• Weight: 600–1000 grams
• Length: 55–65 centimeters
• Handle: 3–4 nodes
• Stitching: 1 tekleme, 1 çiftleme

^{Artisans Making Sakarya Brooms} (AA)

• Broom length: 30–40 centimeters
• Handle length: 120–150 centimeters
• Stitching: 3 çiftleme

• Broom length: 55–60 centimeters
• Handle length: 100–120 centimeters
• Stitching: 5 horizontal stitches

• Weight: 500–700 grams
• Broom length: 55–70 centimeters
• Plastic handle: 10–13 centimeters

• Weight: 600–800 grams
• Broom length: 55–70 centimeters
• Handle: 8–9 nodes

^{Sakarya Broom Production Stage} (AA)

Key tools used in broom making:

• Ground Workbench
• Broom Knife
• Foot Press and Chain
• Spinning Wheel
• Mallet
• Broom Binding Machine
• Broom Sewing Machine
• Biz (wire-wrapping tool)

The Sakarya Broom has been granted geographical indication protection under registration number 350 dated 14.05.2018 by the Sakarya Chamber of Commerce.

• An inspection authority conducts at least one review per year.
• Production compliance is monitored by the Sakarya Chamber of Commerce.
• Producers failing to meet registration requirements have their documentation revoked.
• Compliant producers are issued a geographical indication compliance certificate.

^{Sakarya Broom} (AA)

The Sakarya Broom craft faces the risk of extinction due to factors such as the spread of technology, the decline of the apprenticeship system, and the lack of labor security for handcraft-based work. Artisans report declining interest in the profession, driven by both economic hardship and insufficient social protections.