Al Jazara
روایت خاورمیانه 
Suleiman Akdemir, a 30-year-old blacksmith, is dedicated to keeping the blacksmithing tradition alive that has continued for generations in his family at his workshop located in the historic Kemeralti market of Izmir. In this workshop, filled with traditional blacksmithing tools, fantasy weapons inspired by famous games and series from around the world can be seen.
The Fantasy World in Akdemir's Workshop
Inside Akdemir's workshop, a large fantasy sword resembling the weapon of the character 'Lich King' from the video game 'World of Warcraft' is displayed alongside other weapons. These weapons, designed under the influence of series like 'Game of Thrones' and 'League of Legends', represent the changes in the blacksmithing industry and the new needs of customers.
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Suleiman Akdemir is working on a piece of hot metal, and the sound of his hammers echoes in the narrow space of the workshop. Dressed in a leather apron and black gloves, he welcomes his customers and often chats with his father, Omar Akdemir, who is 54 years old, while working.
Changing Needs and New Prosperity
This workshop used to focus on producing agricultural tools and general hardware, but with changes in the industry and customer needs, Suleiman decided to choose a new path for the survival and prosperity of the workshop. He says, "Thank God, we can make anything we see." This mindset has led customers from various parts of the world to approach him for custom weapon requests.
Suleiman talks about his childhood memories alongside the hammer and heavy machinery in his father's workshop and mentions that he has been interested in this profession from a young age. He knows well that his workshop continues to thrive due to the fantasy and unique weapons it produces. Years ago, he decided to use social media to promote the workshop, and this decision paid off well.
In 2016, new requests from customers for the production of fantasy weapons began to come in, gradually turning into a new market for Suleiman. He recalls that his first online order was to make a wrist blade for a police officer, which encouraged him to expand his work into the online world.
Now, Akdemir's workshop has become an attractive destination for fans of the fantasy world, and Suleiman has aligned the blacksmithing tradition with new needs through his art and skill.
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