About Us

Black Sheep Carpets was founded in 1999 by current owner Aydin Can. After graduating from Yildiz Technical University with a degree in civil engineering, Aydin moved to the town of Selcuk, Turkey and opened the carpet store, in keeping with family tradition. As one of 14 brothers and sisters from the East of Turkey, Aydin grew up in the business of carpets, kilims, and other hand-made village specialties. He is aided in the Black Sheep Shop by nephews, brothers, and relatives from all corners of Turkey.

Our Perspective is Different

Since its inception, Black Sheep Carpets has had the drive to better itself in all aspects of business – continuously searching for higher quality kilims, cheaper prices, and improving customer relations. That is why our motto is:

We are different.
Where others see decorations, we see art.
Where others see business, we see culture.
Where others see customers, we see friends.
We are the Black Sheep.

Experience

Throughout the years, we have had the honor to meet so many wonderful travelers, and this has only increased our desire to expand our business not only internationally, but locally as well. This past year Aydin was able to visit Holland, Germany,and Belgium with a sampling of what we carry in our shop. In the same manner, Erkan (of the nephews) spent time in Austria. Then Aydin also spent over 3 months in the USA.

All of our experiences in different lands and with different people have taught us much. Our hopes are high at the start of this season, full of expectations for the people and carpet deals to come! We recently traveled to the East of Turkey, collecting a new selection of quality kilims and carpets for the new season. This year we also hope to open the Black Sheep Boutique, specializing in the smaller gifts and furnishings, such as cushion covers, textiles, wall hangings, shawls, bedspreads, and other miscellaneous items.

In the immediate year, our focus will be on teaching and selling the carpets, kilims, and goods in our shop, and preparing for our trip to America in this coming winter season. This past year we were able to travel throughout America and visit old friends, reminiscing about our times in Turkey and imparting our knowledge of the Turkish and Kurdish culture through the form of hand woven works such as rugs and kilims. We brought a fair-sized sampling of what we carry in our Turkish store, and were so happy to see the excitement and interest in our chosen business by so many people and communities throughout America.

We have already begun scheduling for the next year, as so many friends, and friends of friends, have requested that we come back again! We love providing this Turkish carpet “door to door” service – which affords us the chance to buy straight from villagers and female weavers and take them straight to a community which can fully appreciate the intricacy and the message that each carpet displays.

Our Carpets

We collect the highest quality handmade carpets and kilims from all over Turkey and then ship throughout the world.

Get to Know us

We thank you for taking the time to do a little research about us, as the only way you can truly appreciate your carpet, is by knowing the value and work that went into it – and fully trusting the source you have bought it from. We are here at all times to answer questions related to Turkish rugs and kilims, as well as offering what knowledge we can about Turkey, and Selcuk, the community in which we are based. We have spent years learning, and would love the opportunity to share with you what we have gleaned from this rich culture. If nothing else, we are here to make you feel comfortable with this land, these people, and the message they have imprinted upon their works of art. Please feel free to contact us by e-mail, or if you are in town, please stop by for a glass of tea and share with us the beauty of a Turkish afternoon.

~ Aydin and the Black Sheep Family