AFRA
Afra, the white soil in the heavens that no one ever set foot..
Hi,
My name is Asli. I am 40 years old. I have been running Afra actively for 10 years now, and I think it is the best thing I have ever done in my life.
Before getting into the world of knitting, I did advertising for most of my working life. One day I was doing a campaign for a bank, another day preparing an ad for a chocolate brand, and another day for a textile company. I enjoyed it first, but then it started to bug me that I wasn't the one producing things, and that I was merely a person in between companies and consumers. I wanted to offer something myself. Something I would like to share with people that's coming directly from my hands. It didn't take too long for me to part ways with the advertising world, once I realized the hollowness growing inside me. Luckily I wasn't alone. My dear friend, Azra was also feeling the same, and she and I joined up together and started working on something we both loved. Thats's how AFRA got started. We wanted to explore on a new land and rediscover ourselves.
So, the thing I learned from grandma as a kid, became my job later in life, relieving me from stress, fulfilling my desire to create. I love knitting. Coming up with a new idea or a design, choosing the right yarn with right colors, combining stuff to create a whole, both beautiful and functioning product; these are my daily challenges now, and I am happy. I can't describe the feeling it gives me, knowing somewhere in the world, someone is wearing something of my creation.
On the journey we started together with Azra, I am alone now. My dear companion felt like designing clothes for heaven. I am sure angels are better looking now thanks to her. Thanks to her, Afra exists today.
Asli Akbay