Source: Wide Angle: "Turkey's Tigers"
Since its establishment in 1923, the republic of Turkey has strived for Westernization. Radical reforms to secularize the Muslim nation created a tradition based on Eastern and Western civilizations. This environment conceived “Turkey’s Tigers,” a new breed of businessmen who have found a balance between faith and enterprise. In this video from Wide Angle, meet Mustafa Karaduman, CEO of Turkey's largest Islamic-style clothing chain.
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Turkey is located in a part of the world that was once called the Near East. For centuries it was a link between Europe and Asia. Its main city, Istanbul (previously called Constantinople), was a trading, religious, and social hub. Both Christianity and Islam have had major influences on the development of Turkey's culture.
In the early 1900s Turkey experienced a period of rapid economic and social change. In 1923, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, a popular leader in Turkey's military, declared the establishment of the Turkish Republic. He launched an aggressive program to modernize and secularize the country, which brought about many changes. Turkey has modernized its economy and is poised to become a member of the European Union. Simultaneously, religious and political leaders are working to preserve traditional Islamic aspects of Turkey's culture while embracing some of the West's attitudes and practices. Turkey's future stability and growth will be determined by how well it can incorporate the rich heritage of its past into its goals for future.
One of the industries that is confronted with this change is the garment industry. Some women in Turkey choose to wear traditional Islamic garb, while many others choose to wear non-traditional Western attire. What does this mean for business leaders in Turkey? What does it mean for female consumers? In the Turkey that is evolving, will there be room for both the past and the future?
NARRATOR Turkey. A Muslim nation, secular by law, where piety is on the rise.
NARRATOR And businessmen are pursuing wealth, faith and fashion.
NARRATOR They represent a new face of Islam - both devout and profit-driven.
Reporter What kind of clothes are we going to see in the show today?
Mustafa Karaduman It's a surprise. You'll have to wait and see.
NARRATOR They're earning the name: Turkey's Tigers.
Mustafa Karaduman Islam has five pillars. Three of them are about worship and the body. Two of them are about business. If you don't do business you can't go on your pilgrimage; if you don't do business, you can't give to charity. So you need to earn money in order to go on your pilgrimage and help others.
NARRATOR Mustafa Karaduman's business is the design and manufacture of women's clothing made according to a strict interpretation of the Koran.
Mustafa Karaduman My wife, Zulfiye Karaduman.
Zulfiye Karaduman He works outside and I take care of the children inside.
Mustafa Karaduman When she's at home, she doesn't have to be covered. But if women go outside, they need to be fully covered in every situation. And that's why we exist, that's what I think.
NARRATOR Karaduman is making a business opportunity out of clothing for conservative Muslim women.
Mustafa Karaduman I like Mercedes cars. It was my ideal and Allah allowed it, so I bought it.
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