On a recent trip to Istanbul, Turkey I found myself in a tree-hugger’s wonderland amidst the bustling labyrinth of the Grand Bazaar.
In the heart of this Middle Eastern market, Abdulla Natural Products boasts a wide variety throws, blankets, covers, and shawls, as well as a full line of hamam products, or special towels and washcloths used in Turkey’s infamous baths. The textiles are 100% natural: linen, organic cotton, silk, as well as sheep, cow, and goatskins.
Additionally, Abdulla carries organic olive oil and olive oil soaps, honey, and pomegranate syrup, all produced locally and naturally in Turkey (a country which, by the way, is one of the world’s largest growers of organic cotton).
Metin Tosun, Abdulla’s founder and proprietor, opened his boutique shop about 15 years ago. The original concept was a sort of Turkish delicatessen, where he intended to sell a wide array of local Turkish handicrafts and gourmet foods.
But as he traveled the countryside searching for quality products, he encountered many small textile producers complaining about their lack of business.
“There are very few handlooms left in Turkey,” recalls Tosun. “In general, everything is industrialized.” He opened Abdulla to give these local economies and traditional modes of production some support.
More broadly speaking Abdulla is the result of Tosun’s ironclad belief that organic and natural sources create a higher quality product. All of the dyes used in the store’s products, for instance, are plant-based because, according to Tosun, “Natural dyes are much nicer! They just look better than industrial dyes. If you want to dye something brown, you can use an acorn!” Plus, naturally sourcing his wares adds more local character. “The herbs that they use in central Turkey to make blue are different than the ones in Eastern Turkey,” he says.
Tosun is hesitant to call himself an environmentalist. When I asked him if he assumes this label, he laughed and elegantly evaded the question, and once again cited the importance of high quality. However the store’s owner does or does not label himself and his endeavor, Abdulla is certainly a model of the sustainable values we like to see here in the Middle East!
The original Abdulla is located inside the Grand Bazaar, on Halicilar Caddesi next to the Fes Cafe. A second branch is located outside the Bazaar at Ali Baba Türbe Sokak 25-27. If you are like me, bring your older sister so she can forcibly drag you out of the store. Otherwise you might never see the rest of Istanbul!
:: Abdulla
Photo by Rachel Bergstein, courtesy of Shira Bergstein’s camera
Previous Green Prophet posts on natural textiles:
Cotton’s Organic Clothes Are Soft on the Environment
No Sweat Apparel’s Organic Ts Help Bring Peace to the Middle East
Bagir’s Recycled Plastic Bottle Suit Gives New Meaning to Euro-Trash
Author: Rachel Bergstein
When her vegan summer camp counselor explained to a fifteen-year-old Rachel how the dairy industry pollutes the groundwater in poor rural communities and causes global warming, there was no turning back. Her green fire lit, Rachel became increasingly passionate about the relationship between human societies and the natural environment, particularly about the systemic injustices associated with environmental degradation. After snagging a B.A. in Peace and Justice Studies at the University of Maryland, where she wrote an undergraduate thesis on water injustice in Israel/Palestine and South Africa, Rachel was awarded the New Israel Fund/Shatil’s Rabbi Richard J. Israel Social Justice Fellowship to come and spread the green gospel in Israel for the 2009-2010 academic year. She currently interns for Friends of the Earth Middle East in their Tel Aviv office. When Rachel is not having anxiety about her ecological footprint, carbon and otherwise, she can be found in hot pursuit of the best vegetarian food Tel Aviv has to offer. She also blogs about her experience as an NIF fellow and environmentalist in Israel at organichummus.wordpress.com. Rachel can be reached at rachelbergstein (at) gmail (dot) com.
the fabrics and dyes are indeed beautiful, however I purchased a scarf which has leaked dye over my neck and clothes, despite being hand washed before wearing. You need to wash and rinse some of these fabrics many many times before risking wearing next to your other clothes.
Thanks for the tip, Andrew!