Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Melike & Ipek. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Melike & Ipek, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
We, Ipek and Melike, have always been interested in beauty and wellness. However, we’ve grown tired of the products available on the market. Many of them are filled with chemicals and packaged in plastic, harming both the environment and our health.
Additionally, we’re weary of unrealistic beauty standards and the greenwashing in the industry. We wanted to find a better way.
So, we set out on a mission to create something truly special and unique. Drawing inspiration from the ancient beauty rituals of Mediterranean women and the traditions passed down by our grandmothers from various countries, we developed the Banyo bath and body care line—a line of products that nourishes not only the skin but also the soul.
At Banyo, we offer a transformative bath and body care routine rooted in Mediterranean beauty traditions and natural ingredients.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Both of us harbored a deep passion for beauty and wellness. Ipek is a Balanced Body Master Pilates Instructor, (PMA-NCPT., while Melike holds NAHA Level 2 Proffesional Certification as an aromatherapist.
We found ourselves disheartened by the prevalence of toxic products and the packaging crisis in the beauty industry. Store aisles were inundated with green-washed items that posed harm to both the environment and our health. Dreaming of a body care ritual that prioritized not just skin health but also spiritual and environmental well-being, we drew inspiration from our grandmothers’ natural body care practices to establish The Banyo Co.
So, we set out on a mission to create something truly special and unique. Drawing inspiration from the ancient beauty rituals of Mediterranean women and the traditions passed down by our grandmothers from various countries, we developed the Banyo bath and body care line—a line of products that nourishes not only the skin but also the soul.
Ipek ventured into the streets of Istanbul and found original Ottoman Hammam Exfoliating Glove crafters who only used raw and natural materials and still used traditional methods on wooden looms. She personally engaged with them, gaining a deep understanding of every aspect of the production process, and sourced the finest raw materials from the local area.
Melike searched globally for the premier essential and carrier oil suppliers and partnered only with those that had the necessary certifications to produce the highest quality essential oils sustainably and ethically. She created blends using the purest, finest, and sustainably sourced essential oils, carrier oils, and floral waters.
And The Banyo Co was born! Ancient soul and body care, unique and transformative – a harmonious blend of timeless wisdom and modern sustainability. For you and our planet.
This healthy body care routine has been used for a hundred of years. It is crafted with 100% tree bark yarn that’s woven on a traditional semi-automated handloom.
The semi-automated handloom prevents stiff weaving as a result those gloves absorb more between fibers and become malleable and protect your skin from any scratching or irritation. It clears skin and impurities using only water, caused by environmental factors like air, clothes, and chemicals. 100% eco-friendly, sustainable and compostable.
Its is also known for its superior quality and effectiveness.
At Banyo, we carefully select top-quality materials and utilize traditional weaving methods to create our world-renowned Turkish Bath Exfoliating Glove. We enhanced this ritual with our 100% natural aromatherapy body oils for a transformative experience that cares for your skin, soul and planet.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Enthusiasm, emotional intelligence, communication skills.
We both have passionate personalities, always enthusiastic in everything we do. We love to put our hearts into our endeavors. Besides our personalities, we’ve also honed different skills based on our backgrounds. We’ve also worked in different industries since we were young.
Ipek was a professional chef and national sailor with an international business and trade. I have a law degree, practiced law, worked in non-profits during college, and also worked in restaurants during the summers.
We’ve always been working, experiencing, creating, and taking steps toward our dreams.
We believe our different experiences feed our strengths, and our passionate personalities enable us to absorb all the qualities instead of just learning. Our passion and curiosity also acts as our firecracker.
Improving those skills, we recommend experiencing and living! Delve deeper into what you like to do, discover, and explore outside, rather than sitting and researching on a computer. Internships, seasonal projects, and involvement in non-profits are amazing tools to improve our soft skills.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
Changing consumer behaviors and introducing a new ritual in a new country. For example, we entered the market with a new ritual, educating our customers on healthy exfoliation and its effectiveness with the correct products, while addressing greenwashing and promoting non-toxic beauty.
Greenwashing and mass production companies pose significant challenges. We offer healthy and genuinely eco-friendly exfoliation methods rooted in Mediterranean culture, with unique materials and weaving techniques. We educate our customers on non-toxic body care, greenwashing, healthy aromatherapy practices, and body care rituals through our content, pop-ups, and small business efforts. We don’t use paid ads or work with agencies and distributors.
Currently, this presents challenges, but we’ve received great feedback and amazing community support, particularly from other women-owned small businesses. We appreciate the efforts of content creators in this field who advocate for a healthy environment and non-toxic beauty. We’re always open to collaborations with such individuals.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thebanyo.co
- Instagram: thebanyo.co
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBanyoCo
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-banyo-co
Image Credits
Banyo’s Product & Lifestyle Photography : Duygu Turkmen
