MEET THE MAKERS: MELEK YALNIZ

Melek Yalnız is a weaver from the village of Çükita. She works on traditional black looms,

weaving Feretiko and combining it with hand embroidery. She has been at the loom for

more than twenty-three years. She has been working with Moyy Atölye since 2017 and is

today one of the key artisans who form the backbone of the production process.

She is known for bringing the most challenging fabric experiments to life at the loom. Many

ideas that exist only at the design stage—ideas that seem possible on paper—become real

textiles through her hands and experience. She does not simply execute designs; she

understands the limits of the material, takes on demanding processes, and carries projects

that require patience, experimentation, and confidence.

This collaboration has been more than a professional partnership. Over time, it has also led

to a personal transformation. “Feretiko is essential to me,” she says. “I feel a deep

connection with hemp. When I sit at the loom, I disconnect from the world. My mind slows

down, my body relaxes, and the noise fades away.”

For Melek, weaving is not only about the finished object. It is a relationship built over time.

Hours spent at the loom create space for focus, reflection, and presence. Each piece carries

not only technical skill, but also attention, discipline, and care.

Since joining Moyy Atölye, her production volume and income have increased, while her

perspective has widened. She has been exposed to new ideas and ways of thinking, opening

a path for further growth. She later took the university entrance exam as an external

candidate, was accepted into a weaving-related department, and continues her education

today.

“We produce and we earn,” she says. “But what matters most is how our perspective

expands. Moyy Atölye is a brand that moves us forward.”