About
Demet Tokbay is a conservator and artisan specializing in traditional leathercraft, with a background in Ancient Artifact Conservation and Repair from Ege University. Her journey began in 2000 with hands-on training in Bergama, where she developed a profound respect for heritage craftsmanship. She later apprenticed with İsmail Araç—the last known Karatabak and Parsomen (parchment) master of Anatolia—mastering the intricate art of parchment design and production.
In 2014, she directed Çırak (Apprentice), a documentary exploring her master’s life and legacy, which received the TRT Documentary Culture Award. After relocating to England in 2018, Tokbay founded Mavi Dükkan, a dedicated workshop and tannery in North Elmham, where she continues to preserve and reinterpret the ancient art of parchment making through a contemporary lens
