Dünya Kostümleri Müzesi

The Museum of World Costumes is a small municipal museum in the old market quarter of Büyükçekmece, in the Mimarsinan neighbourhood, that brings together traditional clothing from all over the world. It opened in July 2011 in a historic building restored by the Büyükçekmece Municipality. The story of the collection rests on the International Büyükçekmece Culture and Art Festival held in the district every year. Foreign folk dance groups taking part in the festival gave the municipality original costumes, accessories and related objects from their own countries. According to English Wikipedia, the festival has been held since 2000 and since 2003 has been a member of the International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts, which is affiliated with UNESCO. The same source adds that the festival has four times received the council's best festival award. According to the museum's own website, the building is a stone structure of about 210 square metres made up of two independent sections. The display combines Turkish folk dress reflecting traditional Anatolian culture with costumes donated by the countries that have joined the festival over the years. According to Wikipedia, the collection holds costumes from 44 countries. Among these countries are Spain, Uzbekistan, Malaysia, Thailand, Mexico, Poland, France, Venezuela, Ethiopia, Argentina, Algeria, Georgia, Indonesia and Azerbaijan. The same source says the oldest piece on display is a wedding dress more than a hundred years old. The collection is said to contain over two thousand items, and the pieces on display are rotated from time to time. According to Wikipedia, the ground floor is devoted to world costumes and the upper floor to Turkish costumes. Alongside the costumes, a collection of photographs showing each country's traditional dress accompanies the display. The museum's website stresses that the building and its surroundings belong to an old stone architecture that witnessed the period of the 1923 population exchange. According to the same text, Greek and Turkish communities lived together in Büyükçekmece before the exchange, and Turks were settled in place of the Greeks who left. The museum therefore does not only show costumes but also recalls the district's own cultural past. As the institution states, work is carried out at the museum on dowry traditions, folk dances and old customs. The website also notes that workshops for children and talks for adults are held every month. As you walk round, comparing one country's costume with its neighbour's is a good way to see differences in fabric, colour and motif. Take time to look closely at embroidery, headdresses and small accessories such as jewellery. Because the museum is small, it can be seen comfortably in half an hour to an hour. The events section of the museum's website announces activities such as museum visits by young children. According to the museum's official website, it is closed to visitors on Mondays. Opening hours and entry conditions may change, so we recommend checking the official website before you go. The museum sits within the old market fabric of the district centre, so the surroundings are best explored on foot. A short walk leads to the Büyükçekmece Caravanserai, known as Kurşunlu Han, and to the Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Bridge. The southern shore of Lake Büyükçekmece is also within walking distance of the museum. Those coming by public transport can take İETT buses from the westernmost metrobus stops to the district centre. Checking current route information through İETT's official channels is the safest approach. According to Wikipedia, the museum is in the historic building at number 4 on Çarşı Street. The Büyükçekmece Municipality's museum portal lists other museums in the district alongside this one. The museum's website describes the institution's aim as helping visitors get to know their own culture and other cultures with a tolerant approach. For anyone interested in folk dance, handicraft or world cultures, this small museum is a quiet stop to add to a trip along the western coast.