TARA HOPKINS ÇÖP (M)ADAM
- May 19
- 2 min read
Çöp (m)adam is one of our favorite initiatives in Ayvalık, and one we’ve been collaborating with for the past few years. Transforming discarded materials into creative and functional objects, the collective also creates a space of economic and social solidarity for women. A large part of the women producing under the Çöp (m)adam umbrella are women who had never previously worked in a salaried job.
Çöp (m)adam is a social enterprise founded in Ayvalık in 2008 by Tara Hopkins. Over the years, Tara has worked extensively on social responsibility, women’s movements, and environmental awareness. She was also involved in establishing one of the first university-level social responsibility programs in Türkiye.
During her time within the Mor Çatı collective, she became especially aware of the lack of grassroots economic empowerment spaces for women struggling against violence and inequality. Çöp (m)adam was born directly out of these thoughts and experiences.
For Tara, who has been trying to reduce her own environmental impact since her youth, the idea of reuse has always been an important part of life. Over time, the philosophy of “Reuse, don’t use” evolved not only into an environmental approach, but also into a social model of production. She believed that reimagining waste materials could create new spaces for production, solidarity, and economic independence.
Since 2008, more than 500 women have produced within Çöp (m)adam. Today, the project continues to exist around women’s labor, reuse, solidarity, and independent production.
The paths of Moyy Atölye and Çöp (m)adam first crossed years ago during Moyy Atölye’s shop period in Ayvalık. Their shared approach to production and the value they place on women’s labor gradually turned this connection into a lasting collaboration and friendship. Today, the relationship continues through ongoing collaborations and shared productions that keep nourishing one another.
