“WE DESIGN FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE ACTIVE AND EAGER TO EXPLORE"

People more and more tend to use natural and sustainable products is worldwide. The consumer products are more rigorous than ever before. 7elephants who is in Assembly residence, started to produce healthy and stylish products for children two years ago in Turkey. They began to design furniture and textile products with natural ingredients for healthy children. We listened to the design adventure of 7elephants, inspired by children from the founders of the company Daniela Strauli and Aycan Ateş.

Interview by: Habibe Çıkılıoğlu

You design natural and ergonomic children's furniture and organic textile products for 0-6 years old children. The question is that what made you build the 7elephants? Would you briefly talk about your career journey?

The design journey of 7elephants, which we established as two Swiss and Turkish business women, parents and relatives, started in April 2016. Our goal is to produce products for our children daily, timeless, 100% cotton, which is comfortable and stylish in Turkey. We started our designs with furniture first. We created our first collection with natural colored, rounded corners and interlocking furniture. Then we created the “Children of 7elephants” collection with textile products and toys compatible with this design. Today, 7elephants journey continues with the designs we have done with pleasure.

What kind of process do you follow to ensure that the raw materials you use are natural and organic?

We do our productions in cooperation with companies that comply with our logic and business ethics. As 7elephants we wanted to establish the European secure exchange of practical mother in Turkey as well. That's why we never gave up our 100% cotton principle in furniture, especially in natural wax and textiles. The amigurumi toys we produce do not contain details that may be dangerous for children such as buttons. Also the materials are washable and soft.

You do not use paint on your furniture and you only apply water-based polish on birch. How does material use affect child health?

Our design furniture with natural polished over birch and fully interlocking system conforms to the world-famous Waldorf education model. We do not use any kind of polish that threatens children's health in our products and we perform safe, meticulous production with the corner less plug-in design logic.

How does the production process of the clothes take place?

We carry out the production, promotion, and sale of our textile collections that we designed with pleasure and enthusiasm using the colors of nature with our diligent manufacturers and business partners

As children grow up, their furniture and clothing need to be constantly renewed. What functional solutions do you offer for this situation?

Our furniture is available in various sizes suitable for children aged 0-6 years. These measures were designed with child development. As for our textile products, we never choose the tight designs or uncomfortable fabrics that will fit on the child. Our main philosophy is to produce timeless, natural and comfortable clothes that can be used for a long time, in line with the trends.

Which one comes first for you; the material or form you use?

The concept of design should include both. We are based on both form and material in our designs. Our textile products are 100% cotton, comfortable and convenient; the combination of material and form in our furniture is a must for us. In the materials we use from lacquer to tree; from fabric to buttons and toys, we never sacrificed from our quality.

What do you think awaits us in the future of sustainable design for children? How will sustainable solutions for children's designs affect the entire textile and furniture industry?

The design is the actual design as long as it is timely and functional. The basis of the design is to make life easier and enjoyable. In addition, each design should contain feelings that make the customer feel good and special. However, design needs simplicity in order for children to have an area in which they can develop and define themselves. Recently produced products, instead of developing children's own simple and extraordinary imagination worlds, they guide them with heroes and fancy rooms. Our main goal is to provide a world without comment to children who are already miracles and heroes. Our goal in the designs we make with colors and textures is to see children growing up by discovering themselves.

As a mother, what is the experience of designing with inspiration from your children?

The beginning of our journey and every detail in our designs came to life from our experiences in motherhood. Thanks to our own experience, we had the opportunity to determine what children need. Each child's own world is very rich, dreams and perspectives are too beautiful to be directed. If you watch them carefully, they can guide you in their purest form, just as nature's direction. Every child in his own world is also an extraordinary teacher.

What difficulties did you face as women entrepreneurs in the sector?

As the two partners of 7elephants, we had no difficulty in creating our brand. On the contrary, our friends have always been with us with offers that will open our way. We have been selected as the Most Original Product in the events we participated. The fact that we had a stand at the Galeries Lafayette store was a reward for this special award. We became known and loved in the domestic market in a very short time. Our harmonious work as two partners had a great impact on this. Now the 7elephants are overseas passengers. We will continue to express ourselves with the same excitement abroad.

Could you tell us about the process of taking 7elephants in Assembly?

The meeting of 7elephants and Assembly is the result of our close friendships and sincere approaches. As Neylan Matban, the Director of Assembly was our friend, we heartily believed in the energy of the place we saw in the first construction phase and that this energy would return to us when it was finished. As our company grows, we aim to spread to larger areas in the Assembly.

How did working in a new generation office layout like Assembly affect your creative processes?

The Assembly Buildings family offers us a comfortable, warm, friendly and elegant business environment. The interior architecture and the colors inside the building also give employees peace of mind. In this way, we have very efficient meetings in our office. We see that our work environment, which we work tirelessly, has the same effect on our guests.

What kind of transformations do you expect in the future?

In the future, office layouts will adapt to the changing needs of people. The best examples of this transformation are Google's office designs. The happiness, comfort, desires, and dreams of the employees will be dominated by the office concept of the future. People will want to work in places where they feel good, with functional solutions, and most importantly, with spirit.

 7 ELEPHANTS Fashion&Travel Aralık 2018 sayısında