Celebrating our Turkish
makers on the coast
of the Aegean Sea
Nestled between Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Turkey is a gateway to history. It’s a connector of cultures, and all of their crafts and beauty and bounty. Dating back to Constantinople and the Roman Empire, and then the Byzantine Empire. and then the Ottoman Empire, it is a bridge to modern-day Istanbul. Cradled between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, it is at once ancient and thoroughly modern, and you need look no further than its rich, burgeoning community of makers to appreciate this fact. Recently, we visited this fascinating country to capture the seductive imagery of its landscapes and its wares, in the town of Ayvalık. It overlooks the Aegean Sea, just miles from the Greek Island of Lesbos, by bridge to the Turkish island of Cunda, and driving distance to the ruins of Troy (yes, that Troy.) So, join us, as we embark on a journey to all that this wondrous land has to offer.
N estled between Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Turkey is a gateway to history. It’s a connector of cultures, and all of their crafts and beauty and bounty. Dating back to Constantinople and the Roman Empire, and then the Byzantine Empire. and then the Ottoman Empire, it is a bridge to modern-day Istanbul. Cradled between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, it is at once ancient and thoroughly modern, and you need look no further than its rich, burgeoning community of makers to appreciate this fact. Recently, we visited this fascinating country to capture the seductive imagery of its landscapes and its wares, in the town of Ayvalık. It overlooks the Aegean Sea, just miles from the Greek Island of Lesbos, by bridge to the Turkish island of Cunda, and driving distance to the ruins of Troy (yes, that Troy.) So, join us, as we embark on a journey to all that this wondrous land has to offer.
Founded in 2009 by Tulya Madra, Santimetre Studio produces handmade Limoges porcelain homewares that spring to life with arresting patterns, textures and glazes. From New York to Europe, Santimetre has a world of fans.
Atölye Patika, both the brand itself and its Ayvalık-based shop, is a cauldron of handmade creativity. Craftsperson Ermine Boyner Kursat creates a variety of products from ceramics to woodwork (carved from pruned olive trees) and herbal blends to soap, made from cold-pressed, extra-virgin olive oil. If she can imagine it, she can make it.
Atölye Patika, both the brand itself and its Ayvalık-based shop, is a cauldron of handmade creativity. Craftsperson Ermine Boyner Kursat creates a variety of products from ceramics to woodwork (carved from pruned olive trees) and herbal blends to soap, made from cold-pressed, extra-virgin olive oil. If she can imagine it, she can make it.
True to its name, Ethnicloom creates luxurious handwoven rugs and pillows, identifiable by their trademark stripes and impeccable quality. Speaking of rugs, Selam Carpet & Home transforms spaces with its vivid colors and bold designs. Shoes off, please. Finally, there are the uniquely modern homewares of Uniqka, Kitbox Design and Joon, reflecting Turkey’s forward-looking gaze, fueled by its rich past.
We’d slip on our Sakré Design wool house slippers and saunter to the kitchen for a cup of tea with One Ceramics. All the while, appreciating our hand-shaped, minimalist modern furniture by Kos Living, and warm lighting (to make sure we look good) by Nora Ceramics. There you go—a perfect day.
We wouldn’t mind lounging our day away with the help of Turkish makers. We’d relax on a merino-wool blanket in an impossibly soft robe, both by Blanc Şile Fabrics. Then, perhaps, a quick wash up with cold-pressed olive-oil soap by Aperlae Living.
We’d slip on our Sakré Design wool house slippers and saunter to the kitchen for a cup of tea with One Ceramics. All the while, appreciating our hand-shaped, minimalist modern furniture by Kos Living, and warm lighting (to make sure we look good) by Nora Ceramics. There you go—a perfect day.
Ozlem Tuna has been designing jewelry and household desktop objects since 2003. She brings her collections to life using a variety materials, such as porcelain, copper, brass, and steel. While the porcelain products are manufactured in the company's own workshop in Istanbul, copper and brass designs are manufactured in various small and traditional artisan shops in the city’s Historic Peninsula and Grand Bazaar neighborhood.
Think of OD Art and Design's hand-formed, organic-inspired ceramic vases as art you can use—whether you fill them with branches or buds, or just admire them as objets on your counter. Flowers, buds and branches—those are the provenance of Mamuxa, which has quickly become one of our favorite home-fragrance brands.
That leather bag on a palm tree by the sea? (Lucky bag!) That’s made by Tirski, one several Turkish leather makers on PBP, and a member of a storied and burgeoning leather community throughout Turkey. To learn more about its fascinating history, read our latest Crafted profile.
Think of OD Art and Design's hand-formed, organic-inspired ceramic vases as art you can use—whether you fill them with branches or buds, or just admire them as objets on your counter. Flowers, buds and branches—those are the provenance of Mamuxa, which has quickly become one of our favorite home-fragrance brands.
That leather bag on a palm tree by the sea? (Lucky bag!) That’s made by Tirski, one several Turkish leather makers on PBP, and a member of a storied and burgeoning leather community throughout Turkey. To learn more about its fascinating history, read our latest Crafted profile.
