I moved to the US from Turkey in 2015 for graduate school. I brought with me a little Turkish kilim, a kilim stocking, and a pillow cover as reminders of home. As I settled in the US, I realized most people either did not know much about Turkey or had misconceptions about our culture. I also noticed an increasing number of businesses selling Turkish goods, without having any personal or cultural connections to my home country.
Those two realizations became the catalyst for an initiative I have been thinking about: Bringing ethically-sourced Turkish goods to the US to support artisans in Turkey. I reconnected with the man who sold me my first kilim and bought a batch of coasters from him. I started seeking artisans and small businesses in Turkey so that I could give them a wider audience and provide them with a form of financial stability. And I started using my platform to educate people on the importance of connecting Turkish goods to the Turkish cultural heritage.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been a difficult road in certain aspects. Starting a business requires building connections. Doing that in a foreign country as an immigrant woman means I have to work twice as hard to establish my business and build those connections.
There are also misconceptions about the value of handmade goods since we live in an age where you can order anything online for half the price, even though that means lower quality.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Petek Trading Co. offers ethically sourced and carefully curated handmade goods from Turkey. We have a wide selection of goods made from upcycled Turkish kilim rugs — pillow covers, Christmas stockings, coasters, and mini bags. We love creating these beautiful goods from vintage kilims, since it gives the handwoven rugs a second life. We also work with a fair-trade organization in Turkey to source our olive wood products. This company hires Syrian refugees who had to flee their homes, and gives them a chance to start their new lives in Turkey in a firmer footing. We are proud to work with them, offer their goods, and design products that suit the beauty of olive wood.
What sets us apart is that this company is run by a Turkish immigrant, with the intention of sharing the story of Turkish culture. We are able to make a real difference by sourcing these goods directly from the makers. We are constantly seeking out artisans and makers to partner with, and hope to increase the number of makers we buy from.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I would love to see more people come into our store so that we can talk about where our goods come from, and why they matter. Unlike big corporations, there is a face to small businesses, and we truly care about building personal connections (regardless of whether you buy from us or not). We appreciate it so much when you share our business with your friends and family. Every connection makes a big difference in the life of a small business.
On an additional note, we want people to be mindful of the cultural heritage products they buy. Dig deep! Who are you buying from? What are their resources? Are they transparent about their business practices? Try to buy cultural heritage products from people who have strong connections to the home country. That is the only way to ensure the makers and artisans are not exploited.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.
petektradingco.com - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/petektradingco/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/petektradingco/
Image Credits
The personal photo and the first photo by Aduro Images
