Stories

Photographer: Agob Jacoub When Syria is mentioned in Europe, the conversation often revolves around war, migration, and geopolitics. Far less attention is given to the everyday lives, traditions, and memories...

In March 2026, we welcomed a small group of guests to Østerland's shop in Copenhagen for a conversation about Afghanistan, a country that is often reduced to headlines about conflict,...

Many of our loyal followers will probably recognize Najeba. She is one of the craftswomen we previously worked closely with in Herat, and she was among those who helped develop...

Kutnu – a textile with a long history Recently, The New York Times’ style magazine featured kutnu and described it as a textile experiencing a revival. Several brands across the...

In October, we opened the doors to our new shop - and some weeks ago we held our opening reception for friends, family, collaborators, and customers. We were overwhelmed, happy,...

The store was created by the Østerland team in collaboration with some of our dearest friends. Here, you’ll see a physical interpretation of our mission – a meeting between craftsmanship,...

Oya is the delicate art of needle lace, woven into the fabric of Anatolian culture for centuries. More than just ornamentation, it is a deeply rooted tradition—passed from mother to...

Most Syrian refugees remain in the Middle East, particularly in countries neighboring Syria. At Østerland, we are privileged to work closely with several Syrian artisans who fled to Turkey in...

Aziz is one of our all time favorite textile trader. He has been working in the textile and antique business more than anyone we know. He has the most beautiful...

Nehla Solak is an artisan of handicrafts. She was born in 1969 in Antakya, the most beautiful place, she tells me. This ancient town is located along the banks of...

This is a short story about crafts, history, and the aesthetics of Hatay from three artisans. Yılmaz, Şadi, and Nehla joined the Oesterland family in 2020. Oesterland was founded to...

By Idil Asan  The Turkish coastal town Antakya (Antioch) located on the banks of the Orontes River to the south-east of Turkey, bordering Syria, is often described as having been...