Your Business

What is the name of your business?

Eastern Accents

What products or services do you provide?

We manufacture luxury home textiles, including bedding, decorative pillows, curtains, and upholstered furniture. We’re proud to be a Made in America business; our products are crafted in-house in our Chicago facility. This also enables us to take on a wide range of custom projects.

When was the business founded?

1989

Where is it located?

Chicago, IL. We are in the Avondale neighborhood of Chicago’s northwest side, and all operations (customer service, product design, manufacturing, and everything in between) are located in one facility.

What makes your business different from others in your industry?

We are one of the very few luxury home textile manufacturers of our size still producing in the United States—possibly the only one. As a result, we’ve grown into a tightly knit community where every department works closely together. There are practical advantages too, including predictable lead times (we ship directly from our onsite warehouse) and greater control over quality at every stage of production. Eastern Accents is also unique in that it offers a wide range of product categories. Most other brands in the home textiles market specialize (in fine linens, throw pillows, or top-of-bed, for example). But we are able to provide sheet sets that coordinate with your duvet cover, pillows, or curtain panels, and are crafted to the same high standard.

 

Your Story

Tell us about yourself. Where did you grow up, and what inspired you to pursue this business?

I grew up in a small town in Turkey. My dad owned a carpet store when I was growing up; I used to help out in the store, and he taught me my first lessons about textiles and entrepreneurship. I loved the challenge and independence of the store, and wanted to have a business of my own too.

What first gave you the idea to start the business?

When I first moved to America, my dad helped me set up a business selling Turkish carpets on the road. It was so exciting to be in your early 20s, picking up carpets from the port in New York, and driving all over this vast new country to sell them. To this day, when I meet someone from middle America, I’m usually able to impress them with some knowledge about their town! I have truly been everywhere.

Then I met my Siw, my future wife, who had recently moved here from Sweden. She joined me on the road for many years until we decided it was time to settle down. A friend was looking to sell his small cut-and-sew business in Chicago. It was called Eastern Accents: a small operation with just one or two seamstresses making small batches of globally-inspired decorative items.

Siw and I had already begun cutting up damaged rugs to make throw pillows. We decided this would be the perfect next step. We purchased Eastern Accents and the rest is history. We quickly expanded from just kilim and oriental rug-style pillows to other styles, then on to full bedding collections with shams and comforters.

What was your biggest challenge when you were starting out?

Honestly, probably lots of small bureaucratic and logistical details. Siw is an excellent administrator and “doer”. Having someone like that on your team is like striking gold.

Did anyone inspire or mentor you along the way?

My first landlord in Chicago was a major business inspiration in our early days. He was an older man, who had also moved to America to build a better life. He took me under his wing and taught me so much about managing my business, finances, and growth. His little pieces of wisdom still come back to me all the time.

Was there a defining moment when you realized your business was going to succeed?

I don’t think so! I’m still anxious about it everyday—that is the reality of life as a business owner. It is like a child, and it is always giving you grief.

But I’ve always known that there must be a next step coming: that if the project I’m working on now no longer becomes viable, it will have to adapt. That adaptability is the absolute key to successful entrepreneurship. The carpet business morphed into throw pillows, and that morphed into a bedding business. I’ve always had that belief that, even if this thing doesn’t have a future, it will be able to transform into something else that does.

Building the American Dream

What does the American Dream mean to you personally?

Maybe this is a cliche, but it means the freedom to be able to pursue even your most farfetched dreams. When I think back on our story now, it seems incredible that two kids were able to build all of this from a truck and a pile of carpets. Only in America.

How has owning this business helped you achieve that dream?

The business has been the dream. The ability to be completely answerable to myself (and my wife!); to make our own decisions and reality has been such a unique gift.

What sacrifices did you make to build your business?

Owning a business is a 24/7 job, and a huge responsibility. We have the livelihoods of over 200 people on our shoulders. They are our neighbors; we know their families. In many ways, I would have led a less stressful, more carefree life without it. But I can’t imagine what else I would have done!

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

The family I have been able to build. My son and daughter; their spouses; I have two beautiful grandchildren and one more on the way.

In regards to the business, I’m most proud of our community and self-sufficiency. I try to do as much in-house as I possibly can, and count on the incredible people who make up Eastern Accents.

Looking Ahead

What goals do you have for the future of your business?

To be able to keep up with our growth online. We’ve done well so far, but the online space is so fast-paced and ever-changing. I hope we can continue to adapt to this new world in a way that is still true to our identity.

What advice would you give someone hoping to start a business of their own?

Stay flexible, be able to adapt. Have your core values, of course, but know that everything else can change. A business never stops changing.

Your Relationship with Our Firm  

How has our firm helped you or your business?

Over many years, Caren and her team have become more than outside counsel—they’ve become a trusted extension of Eastern Accents. We don’t think of calling them only when a legal issue arises. We call them whenever we need sound judgment. Their advice has consistently helped us make better decisions, avoid unnecessary problems, and move forward with confidence. Having them in our corner has been one of the quiet strengths behind our business.

What do you value most about working with us?

The greatest value is peace of mind. We know they have our back. Their advice is thoughtful, practical, and grounded in genuine understanding of our business because they’ve taken the time to know us over the many years. Fortunately, we’ve never faced a major crisis together, and I believe that’s partly because we’ve had the right guidance before situations became problems. That confidence is something we never take for granted.