Today we’d like to introduce you to Elena and Emrah Akbas.
Hi Elena and Emrah, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
A very special trip halfway across the world from San Antonio, Texas in 2019 was the commencement of a wonderful adventure for us as well as the indicator of an enormous change to come in our lives.
We are Elena and Emrah, the husband-and-wife team behind Nazar. Originally from Turkey, Emrah took me, Elena, back to his childhood home in Izmir, Turkey to meet his family for the very first time.
As I walked into the city and the bazaars all 5 of my senses were completely taken over by the magic happening in broad daylight. Above all, one thing that stuck out to me the most was these little “eyes” adorned in nearly every home, cafe, shop, or business I stepped into. They came in all colors imaginable and in the form of wall hangers, keychains, jewelry, and another décor as well and needless to say- I was entranced.
Being born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, a beautiful city with a rich Hispanic culture I was already familiar with the tradition and lore around Evil Eye, or Nazar as it is called in Turkish. However, when seeing these pieces abroad and the different colors and designs they came in, I knew I was seeing something special. It was as if they had figured out how to put magic in them.
And so we said to each other: we need to share this magic with everyone back home.
We did just that.
Flash forward to 2021, we now proudly share with you all these unique, handmade goods made by local artisans back in Turkey. We hope that in every piece sent to you, you can feel a little bit of that charm Turkey exudes.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
All paths, no matter how easily obtainable the destination, have some sort of obstacle. But we gladly and with honor take the challenge!
As we bring these items from halfway across the globe, at times communication can be tough! Turkey is 8 hours ahead of our time in San Antonio. For example, if it is 1 pm here, in Turkey it’s 9 pm.
So, when it is time to place an order, we are actually up between the hours of 1 am and 5 am in morning on the phone choosing which items to bring, how many, what colors, and every other detail imaginable! And then, it can be a tango with shipping, but we’ve got the footwork (for the most part) down for that aspect of our business!
We’ve been impressed with Nazar, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are so honored to share with our local community the delights that come from Emrah’s country- Turkey. All items we carry are handcrafted by artisans and small businesses in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey- the oldest and largest shopping center in the world! It’s very important that we support the handiwork of the amazing artists behind these pieces as to ensure authenticity and to share the story and culture of the Nazar from the hands of this talent.
If you’ve ever visited our booth, we believe you’d say we are a 10×10 space of magical blue eyes in every form including hanging wall decor, keychains, jewelry, soaps, and more!
We are so proud of the community we’ve built of kind individuals who enjoy learning about our culture and growing with us. It’s truly such a pleasure sharing our items with everyone and creating lasting relationships with our customers.
For those who don’t know, the Nazar, or Evil Eye, is a symbol not only known in Turkish culture but in many cultures around the globe as well! However, the styles we bring are specifically Turkish styles. In fact, a healthy amount of customers that have visited our booth knew the origin of our Nazar right away!
That being said, the significance of these pieces is very special and is generally accepted amongst all cultures. By hanging a Nazar in your home or worn as jewelry, you are warding off negative energy, ill will, and bad luck! May these items bring you peace and protection wherever you go.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
We would love to see you all sometime at one of our pop-ups! Keep up with our schedule by following us on social media- we are on Facebook and Instagram as: @Nazar.satx
Do you prefer shopping online? We have a solution for that! Check out our online shop at: www.thenazarbazaar.com/shop.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thenazarbazaar.com
- Instagram: Www.instagram.com/Nazar.satx
- Facebook: Www.Facebook.com/Nazar.satx
Image Credits
Elena Akbaş, Emrah Akbaş
