We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Eveay Tatman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Eveay below.

Eveay, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

2020, what a year! I found myself sitting at home and trying to keep it all together. I frequently pushed my business ideas aside because it was never the perfect time to start them. During the lockdown, I thought this is a huge opportunity to finally start what I have been pushing aside for so long and focus on something creative and excited during a very challenging time. I grew up in Turkey. I decided to start my business with traditional Anthep shoes because I know the product. It’s %100 leather inside and out footwear that is crafted with care, instantly comfortable so we could travel around the world and still look stylish.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Antheplife is a sustainable brand that believes in feeling good, looking good, and doing good. Antheplife shoes are traditional heelless shoes that have a 600-year history in Southern Anatolia and are one of the rare natural products that have survived to this day. They are 100% handcrafted and made from all-natural materials, including high-quality vegetable-dyed Italian leather. Constructing the shoe requires both patience and preciosity. Today the shoes are produced by a limited number of artists in Gaziantep. I take pride in our products and hold a heartfelt relationship with the atelier we work with. These Masters are dedicated to preserving the original art, using the age-old techniques, and honoring their culture and the masters who came before them. It is 4 days process to create each pair.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

I am incredibly lucky to have very supportive friends and family to help me.

From the leather colors to photoshoots, names to modeling, many people have helped and encouraged me. My career has taken me in different directions in various management positions at international companies in the hospitality industry. When I became a mother, I started to care more about using natural products. I had the chance to use different products that inspired me because of our multicultural family structure, living and traveling abroad for a long time. I wanted to create e-commerce only to sell affordable, sustainable, stylish, and ethically made products for everyday fashion and started with completely natural, handmade shoes from my own roots. It was not a difficult decision for me to decide where to start since I used to bring those shoes to my friends every time I traveled to and from Turkey.

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

Round Top Antique Market 2021 was. my first time doing any market and direct sale. I showed up with only two baskets of shoes and within the first minute, I found out that I knew nothing! The next day, I brought shelves and more shoes and learned to use Venmo for the transaction. I was lucky again because my neighbor was an Interior Designer -Janet Gust and she and her team helped me a lot to create my pop-up store.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.antheplife.com
• Instagram: @antheplife
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/austinantheplife

Image Credits
Courtney Kenefick – GypsySky Photo House