Who We Are
Hi, I'm Izabela, a self-made social entrepreneur and social activist. Having spent numerous years in the luxury industry and fashion in Paris, life eventually led me to Istanbul, Türkiye, where I founded this company.
Throughout my own brand creation journey, I've come to truly understand how the process of bringing a product to life is riddled with challenges and roadblocks, and I've witnessed firsthand how daunting it can be for entrepreneurs to navigate this path alone.
Over the years, I've fostered strong relationships with artisans and manufacturers who produce quality handmade goods in Türkiye. This allowed me to witness the complexities of the manufacturing process up close and realize the crucial role it plays in the success of a brand.
Understanding the significance of visiting workshops and factories, interacting with artisans, and walking the factory floor, I recognized that not every entrepreneur has the opportunity to do so. That's why I decided to step in and be the bridge between my customers and the manufacturing process. I personally take on the task of visiting workshops and factories, dealing with artisans, and suppliers; ensuring that the manufacturing aligns with your brand's values and becomes a true partner in your journey.
My mission is to make the journey from an idea to an actual product shorter and easier for you. I truly deeply care about human rights, refugee issues, women's inclusion, and sustainable development goals. This is why my work is centered around creating positive impact by bridging artisanal and sustainable manufacturing with global markets.
I hold a certificate in sustainability management in fashion, furthering my commitment to creating a positive impact in the industry.
When you work with me, you not only get a dedicated entrepreneur with a passion for handmade goods but also someone who empathizes with your challenges and strives to create a world where social responsibility and business excellence go hand in hand. Let's partner together and bring your vision to life in a way that makes a meaningful difference.
Izabela Ersahin
The social enterprise
Sector7 is a social enterprise based in Istanbul Türkiye. We provide flexible work opportunities, and sustainable and fair wages to stay-at-home women from vulnerable communities in fair trade conditions. We are a for-impact business. We employ underprivileged mothers; we provide them with vocational training, raw materials, and a safe space at our workshop where they are welcome to bring their children. They can work from home and choose how much they can or need to produce offering them the choice to build their own work-life balance. With our systems in place, we protect them from the negative sides of the “gig economy”. We are a 100% women's enterprise, employing over 120 mothers. Sector7 truly believes in its social mission, therefore despite being a limited company when we yield profits 60% of them are re-invested into the growth of our mission (employing more and more women) and 40% are redistributed among all workers.
We produce yarn and knit and crochet goods (toys, home decor pieces) and textiles (serigraphy printed goods, ready-to-wear and home decor).
Partners
In order to increase our impact we collaborate with numerous partners, we call them ecosystem partners. Local and international NGOs and development agencies help us identify artisan groups and support their capacity building. We collaborate with UNHCR, The World Bank, Impact Hub Ankara, IDEMA, Hayata Destek, The Turkish Red Crossant and more.
We actively support women cooperatives across the country and accompany them on their journey. One of our manufacturing partners is Beri Cooperative in Ankara.
Lastly, we partner with other social businesses to join forces and create even more impact, one of our partners is This is Mana a pioneering enterprise in circular economy.