MERAL SARTEKIN was born in Akhisar, a rural village in Turkey. The free spirited, independent young woman later left her country to study abroad in Zurich, Switzerland where she married Halil and gave birth to their daughter. In 1992 the couple founded Kelim, a boutique specializing in handmade goods from their native Turkey. Meral and Halil began designing jewelry inspired by the beautiful patterns in, the traditional Turkish carpets and the natural beauty of their adopted country, Switzerland. The couple now focuses solely on designing and producing the Kelim Jewelry Collection. Together with their nephew, Gultekin, they established an atelier in Istanbul, where a team of highly trained craftsmen bring each design to life.
