Elpek Cloth
The history of linen weaving, which became widespread in the region with the influence of the Phrygians, one of the important civilizations of the ancient period, dates back to very old times. However, the region gets its real fame from the sail cloth weaving produced for the Ottoman Navy, as Katip Çelebi states in his famous work, Cihannüma. Elpek Cloth has been produced for hundreds of years from the fibers of flax, which was once an agricultural product in the Western Black Sea Region. The local weaving, known as elpek in Ereğli, pelemet in Çaycuma, and dissolving cloth in other settlements, was woven with linen and cotton threads on hand looms called order. This cloth, which is mostly used in clothing, is famous for keeping body heat in the cool winter of summer. Today, it is decorated with local embroideries and used as vests, blouses, bags and souvenirs.
