Throughout my entire life, I have unknowingly been a part of a sustainable household. From my earliest memories, I was raised in a family that maintained a continuous cycle of production and wasted very little. Even today, we grow our own food in harmony with the seasons, and my mother's commitment to avoiding waste extends to every aspect of our lives, including clothing. The garments we acquired were worn for years; if they suffered wear and tear during our childhood adventures, my mother or grandmother would meticulously mend them, ensuring they remained in use until they were truly beyond repair. I fondly recall my grandmother ingeniously repurposing old clothing into floor mops, while my mother's handmade tote bags, crafted from discarded jeans, were always a personal favourite.

Our commitment to minimizing waste wasn't limited to clothing; it extended to our food as well. Leftovers found a second life as nourishment for our chickens, dogs, or cats. Given our remote location, we'd also set out containers for forest animals, contributing to the ecosystem's well-being.

Back then, we didn't assign a label like "sustainability" or "zero waste" to our actions. To my grandmother, it was simply the way things were done, often driven by financial necessity. They had ecological solutions for everything, and sustainability was second nature to them. Their values instilled in me and others from similar small communities the importance of spending money thoughtfully and asking "WHY" before making purchases. This upbringing played a pivotal role in my decision to establish a slow fashion business. I learned from my family that a zero-waste lifestyle and sustainability are attainable for all of us, even if we start with small steps. The ripple effect of such actions cannot be underestimated.

In 2018, I left my small town to pursue a brighter future and continue my education in Australia. However, the fast fashion and the frenzied clothing industry I encountered in Sydney made it challenging for me, and many others, to keep pace. Consider the staggering number of collections major brands release annually; you'd be hard-pressed to spot the same item twice. A noteworthy example: Zara introduces 24 collections each year, while H&M offers between 12 and 16. How can any of us keep up with this relentless cycle of fast fashion?

Beyond this, environmental crises have become increasingly evident over time, demanding that we, as individuals, contemplate what we can do to address them. One stark illustration of the issues tied to fast fashion is the excessive water consumption. A single non-organic cotton item requires approximately 700 gallons of water to produce, while organic cotton consumes 91% less, thanks to reduced water pollution and healthier soil due to runoff mitigation. This is just one of countless examples.

My mother and I understand that we share one precious planet that we all must cherish. As I often say, change has a way of setting off a chain reaction, and we all deserve the best. To offer you the best, we advocate for the use of organic cotton to establish a sustainable network that leaves the gentlest footprint on nature and our environment.

All the products we offer are crafted from organic cotton, OEKO-TEX certified, and meticulously made in various districts of Denizli, Turkey. They are presented to you with the artistry of my mother, who employs the ancient technique of block printing, also known as stone printing or lithography.


Sources

https://bit.ly/3obGfVm https://bit.ly/3CnIWuw