Our mission is to drive the financial empowerment of disadvantaged women by providing them with a sustainable income hand-crafting our beach wear. Applying values of free trade, we aim to be an example that leads the luxury fashion industry towards a higher standard along three pillars of sustainability.

Social Sustainability

The mission of our founder, Gamze Ates, is to provide economic opportunity to able but unemployed women in her home country of Turkey.  Gamze sees their potential despite the challenges they face - only 30% of women in Turkey are employed outside the home. My Beachy Side employs women in Istanbul as well as in Diyarbakir, an area in Southern Turkey close to the Syrian border, which suffers from political strife and has a large refugee population. We currently provide income to an underprivileged and diverse group of over 500 women with otherwise limited job access. More than just providing income, we offer opportunities for growth including business education. We enable women to support themselves financially and enrich the community beyond. Applying fair trade principles, our makers’ set their own wages to ensure a sincere and ethical relationship; operating on the belief that financial independence is a crucial first step to women’s empowerment. 

Environmental Sustainability

In recent years, greenhouse gas emissions from textile production totaled more than those of all international flights and maritime shipping combined. The handmade products we sell drastically lower the carbon footprint of our output. We produce with a minimum amount of waste and repurpose any excess materials. These practices further our goals of conservation as the equivalent of one garbage truck full of clothing thrown away every second. We are also conscious of the environmental impact of the full supply chain and carefully choose our vendors and materials.

Cultural Sustainability

Part of why we love what we do is the ability to celebrate, share and keep alive the traditions of these Turkish artisans. Gamze infused these time-honored techniques with fresh and modern luxury styles. We source much of our textiles from the Buldan region of Turkey which has a rich heritage of textile production, dating back to the 1300s. We help keep this legacy alive by sourcing from this region because of the fine craftsmanship and to help sustain the local economy and preserve a valuable, centuries-old tradition.