Today we’d like to introduce you to Gonul Yucal.
Hi Gonul, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Hello, I’m Gonul Yucal. I am the founder of the GY Special Collection. First, thank you for allowing me to tell my story here. My company sells traditional Turkish hand-woven textile products. We can classify these products as robe, towel, kimono, blanket, and throw. I was born and raised in Turkey. In 2019, my husband, son, and I moved from Istanbul, the city where we live in Turkey, to Austin, TX. This was one of the most important and exciting decisions we have made. I always dreamed of quitting corporate life and starting my own business. A few months after moving to the United States, the pandemic entered our lives. This process made me think more about what I wanted to do. I would either return to corporate life or establish my dream job. I decided not to put off my dreams and founded GY Special Collection in Austin.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I am just at the beginning of the road. My husband has always been my biggest supporter. If you have family and friends who support you while starting a business, the problems don’t matter much. I feel lucky to have started doing what I love.
As you know, we’re big fans of the GY Special Collection. What can you tell our readers who might not be as familiar with the brand?
My products consist of 100% natural, unprocessed durable fibers from quality cotton and linen by eco-tex quality standards. In addition, thanks to its fast-drying feature, it reduces wetness to a minimum and prevents the formation of bacteria combined with reinforced seams; our hand-woven products retain their original shape for many years. We make the most of a single product by preparing timeless products that can be used for many years. For example, you can use one of my products hand-woven towel, a beach towel or pareo in summer, and the same product as a shawl in winter, or you can complete your home decoration as a tablecloth or use it as a throw blanket. You can use my kimonos, which I prepared using modern lines, either as a bathrobe at home or as a jacket or cardigan that complements your outfit outside. If you want to examine our products closely, you can find us at the local markets in the Austin area held on weekends, or you can reach us on our social media accounts. It is an honor for me to work with valuable Turkish artisans who continue the traditional weaving craft in the production of products. Thanks to them, I had the opportunity to introduce the beauty of Turkish textiles. My success is their success too. I am proud to present you my nature-friendly products, which are a part of conscious consumption.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Our natural resources are not unlimited, and unfortunately, our world is getting polluted daily; we are consuming our natural resources. To leave a cleaner and more livable world for our children, products that cause minimal harm to the world will become widespread in production, and I believe with all my heart that this should be the case.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gyspecialcollection.com
- Instagram: @gyspecialcollection
- Facebook: /gyspecialcollection
