Fantasy fans revive Turkish blacksmithing tradition
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In Izmir, Türkiye, the Akdemir family continues a generations-old blacksmithing tradition, now bolstered by a new clientele of fantasy fans.
Suleyman Akdemir, 30, runs the forge alongside his father, Omer, 54, in the historic Kemeralti Bazaar. While the family once primarily produced agricultural tools and hardware, demand for those items declined as factory production and changing lifestyles made them obsolete.
Suleyman adapted by opening an Instagram account in 2014, attracting customers who commission him to forge weapons inspired by video games and television shows like World of Warcraft and Game of Thrones. He researches designs carefully, ensuring they are structurally sound despite fantastical appearances, and often spends months perfecting the first iteration of a complex piece. The workshop now receives about 450 orders annually, with roughly 35 percent coming from exports to countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
The Akdemir family’s forge is now the last hot-blacksmithing operation remaining in Kemeralti. Yagiz Can Sonmez, a former goldsmith, joined the workshop to learn the craft, bringing a different approach to design. The family hopes to expand and create a space for others to learn traditional metalworking skills, preserving a cultural heritage recognised by UNESCO.
