Sevinc Mert

We spoke with Sevinc Mert, who has worked with us since the beginning, about her journey from growing up harvesting cotton to planning every step of the production process. Learning by doing, Sevinc is now in charge of the development of our collection made in Türkiye. Learn about the importance of people, sharing what she has learned with others, and becoming familiar with the characteristics of natural materials for Sevinc through our conversation below.

How has your work evolved since you started working with Baserange? What was it at the beginning, and what is your role now?

I met Baserange around 14-15 years ago. At that time, I was based in the Istanbul office, and I still clearly remember the first meeting when they said they wanted to develop a new collection. The room we were in, the fabrics we selected together… it all stayed with me. In the first season, we produced 100% wool jumpsuits and a shirt. At that time, I was more experienced on the fabric side, and I didn’t fully know garment production yet. Working with Baserange pushed me to learn more. I found a pattern maker and started learning pattern making myself. That was a turning point for me. Over time, I became more involved in every stage of production. I worked across different parts of the process, took responsibility, and learned by doing. Today, I manage the full process in our collaboration with Baserange — from development and sampling to production, financial follow-up, and shipments. Being able to follow and manage the whole process is something I feel proud of, and it has been a very educational journey for me.

Are you in touch with the suppliers of yarns and raw materials? What kind of relationship do you have with them?

I started my career in the textile industry in a home textile company that has a large integrated production factory. I worked there for about 4 years, both on the production and marketing sides. In the beginning, I spent a long period directly in the factories, learning the full process from yarn factories to the finished product. At the same time, I was traveling to European and Middle Eastern markets as part of my role, which helped me understand different customer expectations and how to manage them within the same production system. Later, I moved into the garment side and worked actively for around 13 years. During this time, I was involved in production, sales, purchasing, shipments, exports, and financial processes. I was not only managing production but also following it closely on the ground. I also had the opportunity to work in different production environments, including high-volume knit production, which helped me gain experience across different product types. Over the years, working with Baserange forced me to focus more on natural materials and on sourcing for each production step. All these experiences allow me today to understand both the technical and operational sides of production, and to identify and solve problems more efficiently.

What is it like working in a factory focused on natural fibers? Does that affect how you feel about the work environment?

Working with natural fibers is a different kind of process. You cannot control them in the same way as synthetic materials. With synthetics, you can follow the same recipes and expect the same results. Natural fibers are different — they have their own character and behavior. Over the years, I learned that instead of trying to force them, you need to understand them and respect their nature. In the end, they follow their own rules. This approach made me more patient, more careful, and more detail-oriented in my work. It also makes you think more about the environmental side of what you do. Where the material comes from, how it is processed, and what happens after. Trying to keep this process as clean and balanced as possible becomes part of the work.

How is community a part of your workplace?

For me, community in the workplace is about understanding each other and growing together. I always try to support the people I work with so they can improve. I encourage them to try, even if they make mistakes. Because the best way to learn in production is to be part of the process. I usually learn something myself first and then share it with the team. When they see that something is possible, they believe they can do it as well. I have been working with some of my team members for many years, and this creates a strong sense of trust. We share responsibilities, but we also support each other when needed. At the same time, I am aware that everyone goes through different times in life. Supporting each other during these difficult times is the best we can do for ourselves. We also spend time together outside of work, which helps create a stronger connection. For me, this is not just a workplace, but a space where people grow together.

Do you have other extended family members that work with the cotton or fashion industry in Türkiye?

Today, I don’t have family members actively working in textile production. But my connection to this field actually comes from much earlier in my life. My father was a cotton farmer, and I grew up producing cotton. I was involved in the process from growing and harvesting to preparing it and sending it to factories. So, I was introduced to the raw material side of textiles at a very early age. This background still influences how I see my work today. It is important for me to understand not only the production stage, but also where the material comes from. Even though my family is not directly in the industry anymore, over the years I built strong relationships with the people I work with. These relationships often go beyond work. Sometimes, sharing the same process, responsibility, and effort creates a bond that feels very strong and feels like family.

What part of your job or workplace are you most proud of?

What I am most proud of is being able to grow into the work I do and manage it with confidence today. When I first started in ready-to-wear, it was a new area for me. Over time, by learning, experiencing, and taking responsibility, I became familiar with every stage of the process. Today, being able to plan production, solve problems, and organize the process from beginning to end is something I value a lot. At the same time, sharing what I know and helping others grow is very important for me. Seeing the people I worked with become part of the process is a big motivation. Also, being able to maintain both professional and human relationships over many years is something I care about. When I look back, not everything always went as planned, but staying in the process and continuing forward is something I am proud of.

Images from our AW25 lookbook shoot in Türkiye.