A folklorist researcher who contributed to traditional Anatolian culture: Abdürrahim Karademir and zeybek costume collection

This thesis centers on a comprehensive collection created by folklore researcher Abdurrahim Karademir, with the aim of preserving and documenting Zeybek costumes, one of the distinctive elements of traditional Anatolian culture. Spanning nearly half a century, this collection serves as a tangible memory of the clothing culture associated with the Zeybek tradition in Western Anatolia. The formation process of the collection has been documented through oral history methods; Karademir's field-based observations, collecting practices, and approach to folk culture have been analyzed in depth. The costumes in the collection have been examined both visually and technically through original photographs, technical drawings, and catalog-style data forms; the types of fabrics used, design features, decorative techniques, and the cultural meanings of motifs have been detailed. Adopting a qualitative research method, this thesis employs oral narratives, document analysis, and visual materials within an interdisciplinary framework. Ultimately, the study demonstrates how collections formed through individual effort can contribute archival and academic value to the field of folklore, highlighting the role of personal endeavors in preserving traditional culture. At the same time, the thesis emphasizes the importance of support from local governments and academic institutions for such initiatives, and it proposes new methodological approaches for sustaining cultural heritage.