Page 121 - Azerbaijan State University of Economics

Pouliopoulos Leonidas, Pouliopoulos Theofilos: Fur sales in Greece

furs were used not only because of the cold climate in Constantinople but also for ornamental

purposes for both men and women [Pouliopoulos Leonidas, 1994, p. 34].

Afterwards in the Ottoman era, Constantinople (now Istanbul) remained the heart of fur

trade, where furs from Russia and other countries of northern Europe constantly were coming in

th
the city. In 18th and 19 century fur exhibitions starts to develop and Leipzig becomes the

largest exhibition center in central Europe where many western Macedonians furriers from

Kastoria and Siatista are there from the beginning [Brass Emil, 1925, pp. 286-7]. After the

Second World War the biggest Exhibition Centre becomes Frankfurt. Apart from Frankfurt,

significant fur exhibition are being held in Milan, Italy and Kastoria, Greece. In the decades of

1970 and 1980 the fur economy makes a major boom in both Europe and North America.

Traders and furriers of Kastoria and Siatista conquers the markets of Frankfurt and New York

mainly and also other countries such as Austria, France etc.

The furriers of Kastoria and Siatista within two decades are becoming legendary for the

following reasons:

 First because they were very skilled and fast working furriers. Mainly the so-called

‘mechanics’ that were using the sewing machine, they were gaining very high wages because of

their speed and accuracy in work.

 Were very productive in all the stages of the manufacturing process and they wouldn’t

accept to be paid by the time but by the piece(piecework).

 Within a few years became great businessmen although they started as simple workers

without any special education at an academic level.

 The technique of using the fur scraps (clipboard), as a specific and innovative feature of

manual processing, identified the region of Kastoria and Siatista.

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