Women’s Handcraft Days Brighten Barbaros Square

Women’s Handcraft Days Empowers Local Entrepreneurs in Beşiktaş

Between 13 June and 1 July, Barbaros Square hosted Kadın Emeği Günleri (Women’s Handcraft Days), a vibrant event organized by Beşiktaş Municipality in cooperation with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Women’s Directorate (İBB Kadın). The festival brought together women producers, artisans, and entrepreneurs to showcase their handcrafted creations and connect directly with the community.

For nearly three weeks, the square transformed into a colorful open-air market featuring jewelry, accessories, home décor, textiles, and handmade gifts—each piece telling a story of creativity, labor, and resilience. Visitors had the opportunity to engage with the women behind the products, hear their stories, and support their work through direct purchase.

The event highlighted the growing role of women in local economies and underscored the importance of creating accessible platforms for visibility and income generation. More than a marketplace, Kadın Emeği Günleri (Women’s Handcraft Days) fostered solidarity and inspired community connections through shared experience.

Thanks to strong participation and enthusiastic feedback, the event reaffirmed Beşiktaş Municipality’s commitment to women’s empowerment and inclusive urban culture. Many participants expressed hopes that such events will become a regular part of Beşiktaş’s cultural life—celebrating women’s contributions not just in economy, but in the heart of public space.