After earthquakes destroyed her workshops, Gamze Ateş advances My Beachy Side, a sustainable fashion brand empowering women through hand-crafted crochet, with TPF enabling long-term recovery.

Gamze Ateş’s business, MyBeachySide, had offices in Adıyaman, Elâzığ, Adana and Diyarbakır. Each one was directly affected by the earthquakes, making the experience deeply personal for her and her team.

Gamze founded My Beachy Side to merge sustainable, fair trade practices with the rich crochet traditions of Türkiye, championing responsible business practices. Her goal has been to empower women financially through hand- crafting the company’s fashion goods.

The celebration of tradition 

Only 30% of women work outside homes in Türkiye and this number even goes down in Southern Türkiye. Gamze’s vision is to change that not just through employment but also through growth opportunities, leadership workshops, and making sure every woman she works with receives fair wages. She is also committed to sustaining the local economy and preserving the centuries-old textile legacy, primarily sourcing from independently-owned producers in the Buldan region. By using the traditional crochet techniques, which are done by hand, they aim to reduce their carbon footprint. But, for Gamze, in the middle of it all, lies the celebration of tradition and creativity of which the community she has built can take pride in.

Everything she has worked to establish for years crumbled down in a matter of few minutes with the earthquakes - her workshops, her community, and her dreams. All of the four workshops in the region were damaged. The largest devastation was in Adıyaman - 55 of the 60 women employed lost their lives. Despite all the challenges to reach the region, Gamze and her team in Istanbul immediately provided supplies to the survivors.

TPF steps in

Yet, she wanted to do more. Using her personal network and the close-knit community of My Beachy Side, she started a campaign with TPF. Her goal was not just immediate relief but to build sustainable, long- term solutions. She says “While many organizations were focusing on urgent needs, we wanted our funds to create lasting change.

We used part of the funds to set up a women’s center in Bayburt, a region unaffected by the earthquake but susceptible to migration. And, we will continue to create opportunities for women to be financially independent.

Gamze’s dream is to develop sustainable villages in Türkiye, keeping in line with the unique DNA of each region. She envisions a model village where sustainability is the central point, intertwined with rich social and cultural life, exceptional educational facilities, and a focus on the well-being of its residents. She believes this model can prevent migration to larger cities, preserve cultural values, and contribute to the local economy.

Gamze’s personal commitment to the cause is deeply rooted in her upbringing. As the daughter of a military officer, she moved from one town to another across Anatolia as a child. This will expose her to the unique charm of country living, with its rich traditions, agricultural practices, and close-knit communities. Her family valued community and giving back, viewing it not in financial terms, but as solving a problem or lending a hand. From early on in her life she has seen how philanthropic acts can create a domino effect, benefiting society at large. She says; “the drive to give back isn’t just altruistic; it’s deeply gratifying and creates a sense of fulfillment.” She works with TPF to take her vision to the next level and breathe life into these model villages she has been envisioning.

Gamze believes the earthquake’s aftermath was a stark reminder of our responsibilities. Through collaborative efforts and a focus on long-term solutions, she hopes to create a positive impact and help communities rebuild stronger than before.