How Personal Experience Shaped a Business

My inspiration for Bebekish came from personal experiences as a mother and my growing awareness of the impact that our choices have on the environment. As a mom, I wanted nothing but the best for my son—products that were safe, soft, and nurturing for his sensitive skin. It didn’t take long to realise that conventional options fell short. Synthetic fabrics and conventional cotton, often treated with harsh chemicals, didn’t align with my values or my desire for a greener planet.

And here is the story behind Bebekish! 

As a first-time, working mum in the city, finding out I was pregnant felt almost impossible. I had been diagnosed with endometriosis at 30, and my doctor said the odds of conceiving within five years were one in a million. We hadn’t even been trying! On our wedding night, we only tried once, and by the time we returned from our honeymoon, I was pregnant. My doctor was astonished—it was truly a miracle. It was proof that sometimes, science doesn't know everything.

At 32, I wasn’t entirely ready to have a child. I had just started a new job, moved into a new house, and was newly married. Suddenly being pregnant was overwhelming. My pregnancy wasn't easy either; the first three months were painful, with multiple hospital visits to check that the baby was okay. There was a high risk of miscarriage, but thankfully, everything turned out fine.

When my son, Ethan, was born, I was overjoyed. I threw myself into reading every baby magazine I could find, determined to raise a “perfect” child. Naively, I believed that this was possible. I bought far too many clothes for him from reputable brands, all labeled as 100% cotton, high-quality, and durable.

We prepared Ethan’s room when I was five months pregnant, and we even attended six weeks of hypno-birthing courses after work. I dragged my husband, Richard, to these sessions each week. I ate organic food, exercised, and did everything I thought would bring a “perfect” child into the world.

But my birth experience was a nightmare. After labouring in a birthing pool for over 24 hours, my water was broken, and contractions suddenly stopped. Ethan was trapped for another 10 hours before they tried a drip to restart labor. After another 10 hours with no progress, they decided on an emergency C-section, which I had hoped to avoid. Nothing went as planned. However, we were blessed with a beautiful, healthy baby boy.

A New Life 

When we brought Ethan home, he cried continuously. After four days, while changing his clothes, I noticed purple spots on his chest. Fearing meningitis, I rushed him to the doctor, only to find out it was eczema and skin irritation. Relieved, I threw out all his clothes and replaced them with organic cotton clothing. Despite all my preparations, motherhood taught me that I couldn’t control everything.

Until then, I hadn’t known the difference between organic cotton and conventional cotton. As I researched, I became stunned by what I learned about synthetic and polyester clothing—the impact on our skin, our environment, and the lives of farmers.

Around this time, Richard’s job took us to Turkey, my home country. We moved with Ethan, who was not yet two years old. In Turkey, people would often ask where I got Ethan’s beautiful organic clothes, and I soon realised there were few options for organic clothing there. I had always wanted to be an entrepreneur, so I decided to help other families like mine and created Bebekish.

At first, I became a distributor for organic brands to learn the ins and outs of business, marketing, and branding. Coming from a finance background helped me with the numbers, but I had to learn branding, building a community, and sharing my story on social media. Soon, we had shops in Istanbul and hired a team to help with our mission. A few years later, we decided to produce our own products, as rising costs made it challenging to remain viable. We partnered with businesses and hospitals in Turkey to bring our mission to life.

With a deep love for natural fabrics and a commitment to sustainability, I set out to create a line of baby clothing, muslins, and bedding made from organic cotton and bamboo. Every piece was designed with care, not only to be beautiful and comfortable but also to promote a sense of security, especially for children with sensitivities or conditions like ADHD and autism. Our bamboo muslins and sensory blankets were developed with this in mind, offering calming, sensory-friendly options for those who need them most.

Now, we’re based in the UK, establishing our brand with the same passion as before. In the last decade, I’ve learned so much about business, branding, and people. I’ve grown from my mistakes and learned valuable lessons along the way.

Today, we’re excited to continue our journey in the UK, proud of our mission to provide parents with soft, hypoallergenic, colourful products that are hard to find elsewhere.

Ethan with Cool Star Bamboo Muslin

My journey with Bebekish has also sparked a new dream: a world where we’re all empowered to make choices that support sustainability, without compromising on comfort or quality.

That’s why, someday, I hope to bring all of Bebekish’s offerings to new heights, to raise awareness about organic and sustainable products, and to build communities that foster love, connection, and purpose.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. Whether you’re wrapping your baby in one of our bamboo muslins, tucking them into our organic bedding, or gifting a loved one something special from Bebekish, know that you’re supporting a mission built on love, intention, and respect for our planet.

Let’s create a softer, greener world—together.