Today we’d like to introduce you to Mehmet Yalcin.
Hi Mehmet, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in 1953 in the town of Duzici, near the Mediterranean coast of South Central Turkiye. I was brought to the US in 1970 as an exchange student through the Peace Corps to attend senior year at Mid Valley High School in Olyphant, PA. After graduating from High School, I attended the University of Scranton. In 1975, I got my bachelor’s degree in International Relations, and moved to Washington, DC where I have been living off and on since 1975.
After working at the Washington Post for 7 months, I ended up working for the late Senator Frank Church, D-Idaho, and on the Senator’s Presidential Campaign in 1976. After earning my MA in Internatioanl Development and International Communications at American University, I worked at the World Bank until I was invited to Turkiye by then the Prime Minister Turgut Ozal to work at the State Planning Organization, which is a part of the Prime Ministry. I respectfully declined and accepted a position in the private sector, heading an import export company for a year before I decided to realize a childhood dream of traveling the world with a backpack, sleeping bag, and a tent. The intention was to travel the rest of my life, but due to health issues, I had to stop that kind of traveling, when I followed no maps, had no itinerary. After starting an International Trade Consulting Company in 1986-87, I decided to realize another childhood dream to get my PhD. in Inner Asian and Altaic Studies at Harvard University, which I completed in 1993. After returning to Washington, DC in 1993, I did some consulting at the World Bank. I then decided to open my own business called Woven History in 1995 at the historic Eastern Market on Capitol Hill, where we have had a presence since then. In 1997 we expanded our business by purchasing the two abutting buildings and added the gift store called the Silk Road. So, it became two businesses in one. We then opened a branch in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This store was closed in 1999. We opened another branch in historic Leesburg, VA. This store closed in 2005. Much information can be found on the business online. Fortunately, after almost forty years, we are still continuing. Now it’s time for the young generation to continue, which is happening as one of my four daughters is slowly taking over the business.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s never a smooth road. We all have our challenges. The open secret is to follow one’s heart, pay attention to intuition, and surrender to what is. Life is as easy as we make it, or as difficult as we make it.
We’ve been impressed with Woven History & Silk Road, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Woven History & Silk Road is a family-owned textile business located in the historic district of Eastern Market on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. We have been connecting our clients with rugs and other weavings from around the world since 1986, when we began as a vendor at the iconic Eastern Market Flea Market. Woven History is a product of both my travels and my academic career, focused on Central Asian studies.
We specialize in new, semi-antique, antique, and collectible rugs from over 20 countries throughout South Asia, Central Asia, West Asia, North Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Caucasus. As our name suggests, each piece tells a unique story- no two are alike. All of our textiles are handmade from either hand-spun, hand-carded, hand-combed, vegetable-dyed wool or silk, and are made traditionally to ensure longevity and sustainability. Although no two handmade rugs are alike, we have a wide selection and pride ourselves on having something for everyone.
We are the direct source for all of our treasure. Each piece is hand-selected by our team. We have our own looms in Nepal working with Tibetan refugees, as well as in Pakistan and Afghanistan working with Hazara and Turkmen refugees, where we work to continue the dying art of weaving ethically and sustainably. The rest of our pieces are sourced by us from weavers or families of weavers. A select few of our rare, antique, collectible pieces are sourced from collectors.
Aside from our rugs, we also carry a wide selection of furniture, jewelry, and gift items from along the ancient Silk Road, or what are now the countries between modern-day China and Turkey. We work with projects such as the Altai Women’s Crafts Projects to source some items, such as our traditional clothing, accessories, and home décor items.
What makes our selection of over 5,000 handwoven rugs special is that they are all sourced directly from the weaver or the family of the weaver, and are hand-picked by me or my daughter Rabia. This is a personally curated collection of every rug from along the Silk Road and beyond, and each is unique.
We also offer rug cleaning and repair services. We clean rugs the traditional way- open air cleaning with soft liquid soap, a soft brush, and cold water.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Coming to our storefront to shop and enjoy our beautiful rugs is a great way to support us. We pride ourselves on being not just a rug store but a community space, where people can come to chat and learn about the different cultures represented in our shop. Following us on Instagram (@wovenhistory) is also a great way to support us and learn about different projects we are working on. As for collaborations, we have hosted many lovely events in the past with community members, from concerts to poetry readings to community weaving nights. We encourage anyone interested in collaborating to send us an email or a DM!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wovenhistory.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wovenhistory/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wovenhistory/
