UNIQUE TREASURES UP FOR GRABS AT TWEED TURKISH BIZ
TWO years ago, in the midst of the Covid pandemic, Cenek Sevinc lost his job working as a data researcher at Western Sydney University.
Mr Sevinc set about looking for a new gig and it was suggested he should take on his father’s business of 40 years.
His store at Tweed Heads South – Treasures of Turkey – is known for selling handmade rugs.
Coming from humble beginnings in Turkey, Mr Sevinc recalls how his father sold plastic bags while his mother made rugs.
The businessman decided to follow in the family tradition with the shop.
Mr Sevinc’s dream was to inject greater Turkish culture into the store, and to travel the world along the way.
Treasures of Turkey is the physical embodiment of those pursuits.
Tweed residents and visitors coming to the shop select from Turkish-inspired rugs, mugs, plates, lamps and more.
The Iranian Tabriz rug is an exotic and exquisite example of the wares within.
It takes about one to oneand-a-half years to craft, starting with hand-spinning wool coloured with vegetable dye.
The prized rug will set you back $16,000.
Mr Sevinc said the small knots involved in its manufacture displayed the rug’s high quality and demonstrated the painstaking labour of love required to make the item.
Treasures of Turkey also offers customers the opportunity to make their own mosaic lamps in tailormade classes, which have been proving popular.
Customers can craft a unique lamp by selecting from an array of small glass cuttings and placing them onto a frame, piece by piece.
Mr Sevinc said Turkish culture is rich in history and stories from the country have been a hit with customers visiting the shop.
“People who’ve never visited Turkey before would be surprised how hospitable and friendly and warm they are,” he said.