Why Turkey?
When we first stepped into women’s clothing — specifically sleepwear — we weren’t sure where to source our products.
Like most people entering the space, our first instinct was China. We had friends of friends that worked in China and could assist us in navigating the complex markets over there. However, when we mentioned the idea of opening a clothing business to our grandparents, the idea of Turkey came up.
I remember my grandmother, who owned a small boutique in the market, traveling to Turkey every second Friday to secure inventory. Her, alongside a bus full of other women who owned stores in the market, set out on that path and back, because they believed that no other country could produce the quality of material that Turkey had.
She would tell us stories of venturing in the Turkish Bazaars, not simply markets; far more than that, and marvelling at the array of textiles, spices and products that was on display. No one could recommend Turkey more than my grandmother.
So, we researched. Dug our heels in, spent days and weeks learning about the industry, manufacturers and the top suppliers. Our main goal? Connections. Real people we could speak to. Our objective was not to window shop through a computer screen; it was to feel the weaves of the product in our hands, in person. When we mentioned our intention to visit Turkey to our now established contacts, they were shocked. “You want to fly from Australia to Turkey just to feel our product?” they asked. “Yes” we replied, as there was no more left to say.
Thus began the journey, and to a certain extent, the first real monetary investment into the business. Flight tickets, accommodation and other expenses to situate ourselves in Turkey were unavoidable; “a part of the adventure”, we said to ourselves. You may be asking where in Turkey did we go to, and I suspect you might already have a fledging of an idea where. Istanbul of course. The grandiose bazaars sprawl across the city, inevitable, conspicuous, but a sight to behold. So large, that its corridors stretch for kilometres, threading through the heart of Istanbul like arteries, invisible from above yet unavoidable once inside. What begins as a single doorway becomes a maze of thousands of shops, streets disguised as rooms, neighbourhoods concealed beneath vaulted ceilings. You do not visit the bazaar — you enter it, and for a time, the city belongs to it.
Whilst I would like nothing more than to dive into the intricacies of our time spent boots on the ground, following our local guide to visit the manufacturers; this blog post is better suited focusing on the product quality itself, emphasis on quality.
Days of testing, hundreds of questions, a few Turkish words learned and we found our supplier. An older fellow, whose son ran most of the customer service side of things The son spoke enough English to debate Manchester United’s fall from grace over the past decade, which I considered a win in my book. Numbers aside, the product is exactly what we wanted. Silky smooth texture, but durable enough that it lives with you, becoming a part of your household, not a guest.
In the end, it didn’t feel like a bold business decision. It felt familiar. Almost obvious. The same instinct that sent my grandmother onto that bus all those years ago had quietly carried us here too — the belief that quality isn’t stumbled upon, it’s sought out. That if something is worth doing properly, it’s worth being present for.
What we brought back from Turkey wasn’t just fabric or samples packed carefully into a suitcase. It was confidence. Reassurance that taking the longer route, asking too many questions, and touching what you intend to sell still counts for something. Especially now.
These pajamas aren’t meant to shout. They’re meant to stay. To be worn on ordinary nights and slow mornings. To soften with time rather than fall apart. To feel less like something new, and more like something that quietly becomes yours.
That’s where this story really starts. Not with trends or shortcuts, but with material we stood in front of, people we spoke to face-to-face, and a standard we’re willing to travel for.