“Koton Handicraft Collection” introduced under the inclusive business model generated revenues of more than 2 million TL to 6,500 women in 18 CATOMs in 8 provinces. Led by the Multi-Purpose Community Centre (CATOM) under GAP Regional Development Administration, a collection was created in the hands of thousands of women that reached the wardrobes of tens of thousands of women. Thereby, women not included in the economic system or having low income were enabled to participate in economic and social life.

“Koton Handicraft Collection” introduced under the inclusive business model generated revenues of more than 2 million TL to 6,500 women in 18 CATOMs in 8 provinces. Led by the Multi-Purpose Community Centre (CATOM) under the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Regional Development Administration, a collection was created in the hands of thousands of women that reached the wardrobes of tens of thousands of women.

Under the project “Innovations for Women's Empowerment in GAP Region” implemented by GAP Regional Development Administration and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), Koton Handicraft Collection which commenced in Spring 2016 and produced 11,645 pieces in Summer 2016 has now reached a product volume of 291,086. Reaching the wardrobes of tens of thousands of women from the hands of thousands of women for seven seasons, the Collection now boasts 37 different designs to offer Koton customers through 127 Koton stores with 90 in Turkey and 37 abroad, and through koton.com online sales channel.

Having started in 5 provinces through CATOMs, this cooperation model goes on today by 18 CATOMs in 8 provinces namely Adıyaman, Batman, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Kilis, Mardin, Şanlıurfa and Şırnak where the work on Koton Handicraft Collection continues under the component of developing inclusive business models of the project “Promoting Women's Empowerment and Social Integration” implemented by GAP Regional Development Administration and UNDP.

An important example of inclusive business models and local economic development

UNDP and GAP Regional Development Administration have since 2008 undertaken many works to socially and economically empower women in the Southeast Anatolia. The Argande brand was created in this context that brought together the labour of regional women and creativity of designers, which provided work for hundreds of women. Inspired by Argande, the collaborative work for Handicraft Collection with Koton sets a good example for inclusive business models which have in recent years become important to create new markets, promote entrepreneurship, increase employment by quantity and quality and strengthen value chains. Through such collaboration, the handicraft of women of various provinces under CATOMs in GAP is supplied to customers in stores.