MEKAP: Türkiye' nin En Sağlam Ayakkabıları Nasıl Terörist Ayakkabısı Oldu?

MEKAP: How Turkey's Toughest Shoes Became Terrorists' Shoes Mekap was founded in 1972 under the leadership of Hikmet Kurşunoğlu, with contributions from Italian and Jewish partners. Production using polyurethane injection molding machines paved the way for the first modern athletic shoe production in Turkey. Launched in 1975 with the slogan "Tough Shoes," Mekap struggled initially, but with advertising support, it reached a wide audience, from university students to working-class people. By the early 1980s, the brand was at its peak. However, the January 24 Decisions, which allowed imports, paved the way for global giants like Nike and Adidas to enter the market. Mekap remained strong, but the real problem stemmed from a completely different source: Mekaps began to appear on the feet of PKK militants. This shoe, favored for its durability, inadvertently became synonymous with the organization. Turgut Özal's use of the phrase "Young people climbing the mountains in Mekaps" in a speech was an irreversible blow to the brand's reputation. Shops in the east were raided, and Mekap was cited as evidence in investigation files. The irony was further magnified by the fact that security forces also wore the same shoes. The image crisis deepened in the 1990s. The Mekap name became generic; even similar shoes made by other brands were referred to as "Mekap" by the public. Company executives were forced to defend themselves, and letters were written to the government. However, pressure and boycotts weakened the brand. The Kurşunoğlu family was forced to sell the brand due to increasing financial burdens. In 2005, the İskender family from Trabzon took over. The factory was moved to Trabzon, and production focused on safety shoes. Production resumed in the modern 14,000-square-meter facility, and exports were made. However, the controversy did not end; in 2009, a minister's remark that "terrorists wear Mekap-type shoes" reignited the controversy. In 2013, company executives voiced their opposition, saying, "If halting production will end terrorism, we will do so without hesitation." Today, Mekap primarily produces work safety shoes and exports to many countries. It resurfaced in 2022 with a sponsorship agreement with Trabzonspor for 1.9 million Turkish Lira. While it's still common to encounter responses on the street that echo the old stigma, the brand continues production. To Support Our Channel:    / @laststorybender   #mekap #documentary #successstories