Brand Stories – Inspired by Nature: Máh-roc

Máh-roc is a brand established with the mission of raising awareness about sustainable fashion, designing its bags from discarded fabrics collected from around the world. To hear the story of this eco-friendly brand, we sat down with Bediz Yıldırım and the brand’s founder, Roksan Sarfati.

Bediz: In today’s world, we’ve started discussing concepts like sustainability, slow fashion, and ethical production. However, you were speaking about these values in Turkey long before they became mainstream, and you built your brand around them. Can you tell us the story behind your brand?

Roksan: Right after graduating, I began working in the fast fashion industry. During this time, I traveled a lot and witnessed many stages of production. Seeing all the waste—discarded materials and fabrics, and the sheer amount of resources spent on making even a single sample—broke my heart. Anticipating the future, I started collecting materials that would otherwise be discarded. Over time, I had gathered so much that I felt compelled to transform it into something meaningful, which led to the creation of Máh-roc. The name itself is inspired by a nomadic community that once lived in Afghanistan; it means “moon and sun.” Their lifestyle resonated with me because, like my travels and the fabrics I collected from place to place, they carried everything with them and left nothing behind. I wanted to give these pieces a second life and honor that spirit by founding this brand.

Bediz: Sustainability and recycling have been discussed for some time, but upcycling is a relatively new concept, and you anticipated this trend when you founded your brand in 2016. At that time, you had a stable life and career, yet your concern for the environment took precedence. Wasn’t that a difficult decision?

Roksan: It was, but there’s another truth to it: recycling and upcycling were already well-known concepts globally, but they were new to Turkey. I studied abroad, where these themes were heavily discussed. So my awareness started early, but my work experience helped me translate that into a business. My time in fast fashion motivated me to produce a seasonless collection and embrace a slower, more thoughtful approach to production.

I’d also like to highlight the difference between recycling and upcycling, as it’s important. Recycling involves breaking down materials chemically, which can still harm the environment. In contrast, upcycling transforms unused items into entirely new creations with minimal environmental impact, avoiding the release of chemicals.

Bediz: When discussing ethical production, we’ve talked about your environmentally friendly practices. But we should also focus on the human rights aspect, where you’ve been a pioneer. Could you tell us more about this?

Roksan: We reject the harsh working conditions and fast production mindset that dominate the fast fashion industry. We wanted to create a system where everyone is treated equally. That’s why my mother and I also participate in the production process. Additionally, the fabrics we collect from Sri Lanka are remnants of handwoven textiles created by women. We established an agreement with these women, and a portion of the sales from this collection is donated back to them. We aim to work with more women and individuals in need and make this initiative a cornerstone of our production.Bediz: When discussing ethical production, we’ve talked about your environmentally friendly practices. But we should also focus on the human rights aspect, where you’ve been a pioneer. Could you tell us more about this?

Roksan: We reject the harsh working conditions and fast production mindset that dominate the fast fashion industry. We wanted to create a system where everyone is treated equally. That’s why my mother and I also participate in the production process. Additionally, the fabrics we collect from Sri Lanka are remnants of handwoven textiles created by women. We established an agreement with these women, and a portion of the sales from this collection is donated back to them. We aim to work with more women and individuals in need and make this initiative a cornerstone of our production.

Bediz: Your brand values emphasize individual craftsmanship and encourage women’s participation in production, setting a remarkable example of ethical manufacturing. But you position your brand not just around the products you create. It’s clear Máh-roc is about much more—travel inspiration, motivational messages, and the unique names of each product. How do you come up with these names?

Roksan: Our slogan, “We Travel, Collect, and Re-design,” reflects this process. Since the brand was born out of my travels, I search for fabrics in every destination I visit and name them after the places they come from. Sometimes, we even research the historical names of these locations and use those. Naming each piece is an integral part of our journey. Beyond production, we aim to share our inspirations and the values we stand for through a journal. On Instagram, we accompany our posts with concepts like ethical fashion and sustainability, paired with both informative and motivational messages.

Bediz: This story embodies so many valuable elements, from environmental consciousness to deeply meaningful messages. It’s inspiring to see a brand like this emerge from Turkey. Finally, I’d like to ask—while we’re trying to navigate this new world and spending most of our time at home, do you have any dreams or goals you want to pursue once life returns to normal?

Roksan: Just before the pandemic, I was in Sri Lanka, with plans to continue my journey to other places. When the situation escalated, I had to return to Turkey. I had planned to travel to India next—it’s close to Sri Lanka but culturally so different. I wanted to meet more people, discover more fabrics, and hear more stories. Although I couldn’t realize this plan due to the pandemic, my first dream is to go back and fulfill those intentions. These days will eventually end, we’ll return to normal, and we’ll travel again.