DESTINATION: ISTANBUL
On two separate occasions work has, by chance taken me to Istanbul. The opportunities came out of nowhere, an invitation to explore the shoe production and production in general across Türkiye. I packed my bags, and as I always, added two extra suitcases nested into each other to bring back treasures for M.O.N. as I had my regular work days and appointments as well.
The magic of Istanbul is wild, the volume of people, the noises, and smells, the passion behind vending, all the tastes, and of course, the many, many, many cats. I hired a tour guide to help me get my lay of the land, and we put on our sneakers and started to walk. 20K steps and many Turkish Coffees later, we had covered a lot of ground. In addition to showing me historical references and local favorites, my guide, had also made time to set up stops for me to meet with Turkish towel suppliers, a traditional Turkish hammam soap making house, as well as several stops for sourcing antiques, treasures and objects inspired by Turkiye and the region. We ended the day experiencing a traditional Turkish Hamam treatment and as I laid on a heated marble slab, covered in bubbles and being washed by a bearded stranger part of me thought…”could I live here? Because this feels and seems like a strange chaotic paradise!”
I filled my suitcases and took meetings. At each spot I was welcomed in with tea, a hug, and a feeling that felt more like family than me trying to buy some waffle towels. The attention to detail and the urgency to create commerce. Since my second trip to Istanbul I have been so happy with the goods and relationships I have started. Insane cotton towels, rich olive oil soaps, strangely beautiful home pieces from years gone by, amazing brass objects and so many good memories from our trips to this magical place. I have had the opportunity to visit antique malls, underground flea markets, and hear the rich stories of vendors, makers and sellers. Am I obsessed? Yes, yes I am.
Thoughts on you visiting Istanbul and beyond? 10/10. We have created a tiny selection for you of goods from our travels, a tiny sliver of our trips to Istanbul and the outrageous charm of this bustling city and people. We hope you enjoy. Stop by the store to shop our Istanbul Edit.