An era where everything is consumed rapidly… An age hijacked by instant gratification, superficial desires, and the “use-and-throw” culture… A grand rush where people have no time to stop, breathe, and reflect on what they are producing…
Orlea was not born around a table with the question, “How do we invent a cool story for our brand?”
Long before I met crochet, hooks, and yarn, my own internal quest and effort to understand the world led me across the ocean, to the ancient history of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy. This community, which has existed for over a millennium in the ancient forests of North America and defines itself as the “People of the Longhouse,” symbolizes the unification of different nations under a single political and spiritual roof based on peace and common law. The sense of justice they built, their peaceful philosophy, and that uncompromising structure that places women at the center of life found a profound echo within me.
Years later, in our home in Izmir, as my mother and I tried to exist on our own, to survive, and to build something through female labor without bowing to anyone, that teaching was always on my mind. When we decided to put our own values at the forefront so as not to become just another soulless, giant brand that disregards women’s labor, we instinctively asked this question:
“If we are fighting to exist through female labor and seeking our rights, why shouldn’t we reference those powerful women and this equitable philosophy that I have carried within me for years?”
Our name blossomed from this very organic bond.
While embracing all these values, we are deeply aware that the Haudenosaunee people are not a mythology exhibited in a museum; they are an honorable and living people who continue to fiercely protect their existence, their languages, and their sovereign rights in North America today. We were not born on their lands. We refuse to turn their sacred beliefs into a commercial commodity; instead, we position ourselves as respectful students of this wisdom of nature and labor.
The Seventh Generation Principle and the Ancient Rule Shaping the Future
One of the most staggering contributions of Haudenosaunee philosophy to the modern world… That magnificent teaching that places ecological and social responsibility at its core: “The Seventh Generation Principle” This ancient rule dictates that every decision made, every step taken, and every resource used must be calculated with the unborn, the next seven generations in mind. In stark contrast to the modern industry that aims only to save the day and maximize instant profit, this approach is the purest, most realistic form of sustainability.
In our atelier, this profound inspiration turns into a quiet but resolute rebellion against the “use-and-throw” culture of fast fashion. If a step taken today must consider seven generations ahead, then a garment we produce today must refuse to deform within a few months and join massive textile graveyards. This principle, which views the earth not as a resource to be exploited but as an entrusted legacy to be passed on to the future, forms the core constitution of our goal to crochet dignified heirlooms that adapt to the body as they are used, retaining their form for decades by recording the memory of the skin.
Ancient Female Authority and the Clan Mothers
The backbone of the Haudenosaunee society is formed by a powerful matrilineal structure, tracing its origins to the “Sky Woman” narrative. Unlike Eurocentric patriarchal models, in this society, women were the guardians of property, land, and social order. At the very top of the political and social hierarchy were the “Clan Mothers,” who selected the chiefs to lead the society, held them accountable, and, as the “givers of life,” had the final word on war or peace. The production network we are building stitch by stitch today as a mother-and-daughter team is a result of our admiration for that spirit of independence of the Clan Mothers and their stance in defending labor, walking in the footsteps of this matrilineal production tradition where women stand on their own two feet.
The Great Law of Peace, the “Good Mind,” and the Rhythm of Unhurried Craftsmanship
One of the greatest legacies this people left to the world is the Great Law of Peace (Gayanashagowa), which places justice and rational thought at its center. At the heart of this law lies the concept of the “Good Mind” (Kanikonri:io). According to their belief, peace is not merely the absence of war; it is the discipline of the individual’s mind with thoughts full of peace, gratitude, and love.
We place this equitable approach at the foundation of our fair, exploitation-free production model. When adapted to our own production process, this philosophy means directly transferring the artisan’s mental serenity and tranquility into the resulting piece. Far from the soulless noise of factories, in our home in Izmir, we embrace this slowness within the unhurried rhythm created when a hook meets yarn, believing that only objects woven with a peaceful, patient mind can possess a true soul.
Spiritual Energy and the Soul of Labor (Orenda)
According to the philosophy they call “Orenda,” there is a potential spiritual power present in all living beings. We believe that the artisan’s state of mind, patience, and energy during the production process reflect directly on the product; that a slow and focused craft rescues objects from becoming identical.
As Orlea, in our own struggle for existence, we accept this universal wisdom we love so much as an inspiration, a compass that shapes our labor. While paying our deepest respects to their legacy in the past, we prepare every piece that leaves our hands for tomorrow—as lifelong creations to be kept in the personal wardrobes of the future—so that the decisions of today may transform into the most elegant heirlooms of tomorrow.
Further Reading:
- Wagner, Sally Roesch. Sisters in Spirit: Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Influence on Early American Feminists. Native Voices.
- Haudenosaunee Confederacy Official Website. “Clan Mothers” & “Great Law of Peace”.
- Lyons, Oren. Basic Call to Consciousness. Book Publishing Company.
- Clarkson, L., et al. (1992). Our Responsibility to the Seventh Generation. International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).