Weaver from Herbul - Birsivi (North Iraq)

One particular artisanal craft made the Christian minority in the Silopi regio in SE Turkey famous in their own area and far beyond: the weaving of traditional shella cloth. Kurdish men also wore this festive clothing on special occasions, but they considered the making of it unsuitable to Muslims. Cuique suum - everyone his due. According to Assyrians in Mechelen only the Christian villages of Hassana and Herbul were engaged in the production of these typical shella costumes. After the exodus of these Assyrian villagers from Turkey the craft survived in the Antwerp weaving house Betet Skara.