Social Impact

One product sets off a chain reaction

Iconic Ankara considers impact as a holistic process, from the design and production of the product to the recirculation of the value generated from its sales.

A bar of soap, a ceramic object, or a silk scarf alone won't change the world. But it can change a few things: whose labor is valued, what knowledge is passed on, what story continues to live, and which production networks are strengthened.

The Bağ Collection was developed with this understanding. We are building a growing collection model with local producers, artisans, women's cooperatives, social entrepreneurs, and creative professionals in Ankara.

A model growing with local producers

In its first year, the Bağ Collection came to life with the contributions of nearly 30 artisans, producers, and creative professionals. Within three years, we aim to expand this network to over 120 producers and collaboration partners.

However, for us, the main issue is not just the numbers, but the quality of the relationships we build with our producers.

Fair and timely payment, collaborative experimentation, knowledge sharing, and long-term cooperation are fundamental components of this model. We work with producers not merely as suppliers, but as stakeholders who think, develop, and learn together.

From creative industries to social impact

Iconic Ankara believes in the power of creative industries to create social impact.

Design is not just a way to produce beautiful products. It can make a story visible, add value to local production, bring forgotten knowledge into the present, and open up new income streams for producers.

In the Bağ Collection, the tumuli of Gordion are re-imagined in ceramic form, Nallıhan's rock layers on a silk surface, the abundance of Kızılırmak in a fibula, and the colors of the steppe in artisan soaps.

These are not merely decorative choices. They are design decisions that re-circulate Ankara's natural and cultural heritage through everyday objects.

Impact Model

Whose labor is rewarded?

Local producers, artisans, women's cooperatives, social entrepreneurs, and creative professionals are involved in the creation of the products. Fair and timely payment is the fundamental principle of this model.

What information is being conveyed?

In the production process, not only products but also knowledge is shared. Formula, technique, material, design approach, and local memory circulate among different actors.

Which story lives on?

Each product carries an unseen layer of Ankara. A place name, a river, a rock formation, a vineyard culture or a craft finds new life in a contemporary object.

Production that respects people and the planet

The revenue generated from the collection is returned to producers, social enterprises, and Impact Hub Ankara's work that prioritizes people and the planet. Our People & Planet First certification makes this approach visible.

Thus, a product does not merely remain between the buyer and seller; it strengthens the production chain, contributes to the continuation of a craft, and ensures a story reaches other hands.

Review Certificate