Today we’d like to introduce you to Resmine Atis.
Resmine, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born in Michigan to an American mother and Turkish father and traveled every summer to see my Turkish side of the family, where I fell in love with all the fabulous textiles, ceramics, and carpets during our visits. I’ll never forget my first trip to the infamous Covered Bazaar in Istanbul, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world with over 4000 shops. Dazzling colors and beautiful handicrafts of all kinds were everywhere all within this giant labyrinth. It was magical. I dreamed of bringing these gems to the United States to share the experience with everyone and began the journey in 2012.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s definitely been an adventure! Saving money when you’re struggling financially is definitely an obstacle and figuring out how to bring products here took longer than I had expected. I had a hard time at first because carpets can be extremely heavy. I learned the hard way when my partner threw his back out trying to unload a palate of carpets and couldn’t walk for three weeks.
Since then, I make sure to have a team of two-three people help load and unload them. Pillows and ceramics are easy, so I do that on my own. Finding clients is challenging when you’re starting from scratch on your own. Getting the word out and getting referrals from happy clients has helped tremendously over the last two years.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Simply Turkish – what should we know?
We are by appointment only, and I make it really easy for you by bringing the carpets and pillowcases to your home/work so you can try them out in the space before buying them. From handwoven antique carpets to modern machine made, ranging from materials of wool, silk, hemp, camel hair, horse hair, and recycled cotton.
Every handwoven carpet is a piece of artwork, with 100 % organic dyes. Many take years to weave. It’s a labor of love that may eventually become a lost art form, and I don’t want to see them disappear! They’re a great investment that will last forever. I’m working hard to spread the word and help the tradition survive in a world where the home goods industry’s equivalent of fast fashion is becoming a phenomenon.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I have three main supporters of the business. First, my mother, Sarah Atis. She has a really good eye for amazing art and worked at the Spanierman Gallery in NYC for a short time which led to her travels to Turkey where she met my father, Husnu. He was a successful restaurant owner in Madison, Wi for over 30 years and inspired me to start a business of my own.
There’s also Anika Poitier who established her business, ASP, from the ground up. Anika knows all the important details of running a small business in Los Angeles. She’s pushed me from the very beginning telling me not to give up when things get tough.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.simplyturkish.com
- Phone: 323-377-9064
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @simply_turkish
Image Credit:
Katja Kulenkampff
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