House of Maki

Hi House of Maki, how are you? Could you tell us a bit about yourselves and what you do?

We are two sisters based in Istanbul with a deep love for creating and dreaming. Our educational backgrounds lie in psychology and advertising, but we eventually realized that rather than following those paths, creating with our own hands brings us far greater happiness. House of Maki is a design studio born from a six-year journey of transformation and aesthetic exploration. Our story began rooted in a deep passion for textile art and home living. Over this time, the brand has evolved and matured. Today we blend the deep-rooted traces of the past with the unwavering synergy of sisterhood. For us, this union has elevated the brand beyond a business model into a space of "slow living" where our dreams take tangible form. We reinterpret Modern Boho aesthetic and Abstract Minimalism through traditional techniques like appliqué. In every piece, we seek the "perfectly imperfect" aesthetic; one that is far removed from the coldness of mass production and rich with the warmth of the human touch.

So you both stepped away from psychology and advertising to do this. That's a significant shift. What made you realize this was what you actually wanted?

Creating with our hands brings us far greater happiness than following the degrees we earned. When we sit down with the fabric, when we work together as sisters, it feels like we're speaking the same language without needing words. That kind of alignment, that trust, we couldn't find in those other fields. House of Maki is more than just a studio that designs textiles. It's a shared language of life where accumulated experiences meet new ideas.

You design with appliqué technique and natural fibers. When you talk about "perfectly imperfect," what do you actually mean?

Design is not a static drawing for us. We start with a vision, but when we sit down with the fabric, the material reveals its own character. The appliqué technique is inherently organic. The way a stitch settles into the fabric, the texture of the linen, it evolves that initial idea. We don't just "produce" a product. We "bring it to life" alongside the material. Our unique spirit is born exactly from this organic collaboration. The depth created where fabric meets fabric has much more character than a flat print. When combined with natural fibers, this technique almost breathes.

So when someone touches one of your pieces, what do you want them to feel?

We want them to feel the warmth of our labor on their skin, rather than just the fabric. Far from the coldness of mass production, we want them to feel the human trace in the stitches, the slowness, and the living texture. We hope they carry that sincere sense of belonging into their homes and truly experience the peace that integrates with their space.

You work together as sisters. How does that actually function day-to-day?

Being sisters is like speaking the same language without needing words. In our daily flow, we manage our work sometimes with a glance, sometimes just with intuition. This shared past and the depth of our connection add incredible trust and sincerity to our production process. When one of us gets lost in technical details, the other reminds us of the aesthetic balance. We are in a natural rhythm that constantly nourishes the other. The unwavering belief that comes from having a common dream weaves directly into the spirit and texture of every piece we create.

And when someone commissions a custom piece, how do you work with them?

The custom order process is a true partnership. We don't just listen to their dreams; we guide them to help shape their vision. From the first steps of the design process to fabric selections, we talk and exchange ideas at every stage. Blending the story they envision with our own aesthetic language and turning it into a tangible work of art, that's the most enjoyable part of the process.

You mention that unpredictability is important to your work. Can you explain that?

Unpredictability is the "signature of vitality" for us. Machine production is flawless but soulless. We love the character brought by those small differences. The unique touches that emerge when the rhythm of our hands meets the nature of the fabric are not a limitation. On the contrary, they are the most sincere stories proving that the work is not a manufactured product, but something created by a living human hand. When you look closely at our appliqué work, you can see the unique rhythm of the hand that stitched it. Those slight, organic variations aren't flaws. They are the fingerprints of the women in our studio.

What does craftsmanship mean to you?

Craftsmanship is the alignment of hand, mind, and heart. In this world where everything is consumed rapidly, stopping to create slowly and carefully is a stance in itself. We are not just selling a product. We are offering time and the collective labor of the women in our studio. The hours spent crafting a piece are shaped by the experience and dedication of everyone in our workshop. What our clients take home is not just a textile. It is a living piece, woven with labor, care, and time. In a world obsessed with machine perfection, taking the time to leave a human trace on fabric is our quiet rebellion.

When you teach workshops or share your process with people, what are you trying to transmit?

We don't teach workshops in the traditional sense. Instead, we transmit this philosophy directly through the pieces we create. We are sharing "slow living." We want our clients to see the natural variations and hand-stitched details not as flaws, but as the living signature of the design. When they invite our pieces into their homes, we aim for them to feel the peace of that slowness and experience what it means to truly "be" with a natural material.

What are you working toward? What's your vision for House of Maki?

Our goal is to remain more than just a brand. We aspire to be an ethical model rooted in the profound power of women's solidarity. In this complex world, what truly calls to us is the act of creation, a space where women connect through their craft, weaving their stories together in a shared rhythm. We believe that advocating for "peaceful and conscious living" is not merely a philosophy, but a living practice. By transforming our collective labor into something tangible, we are doing more than producing textiles. We are nurturing a culture of mutual support and enduring sisterhood.