At Parla, ideas don’t just move from render to product, they evolve through deep and multifaceted dialogue, as our manufacturing process is powered by people who think and build together. With a team of 200, over half of whom are skilled craftsmen, our strength lies in the close collaboration and daily dialogue between designers and artisans working side by side on the factory floors.
Every shape, joint, and surface is questioned, tested, and debated to meet not only aesthetic expectations but also comfort, customer satisfaction and sustainability goals. You can see craftsmen visiting the design office multiple times a day, and you can happen upon our designers and production managers tracking down craftsmen in the workshops around the factory.
This continuous back-and-forth is where our true innovation and authenticity lie, not in isolated brilliance, but in this constant rhythm of shared expertise.
This week, we highlight a cornerstone of Parla’s manufacturing force, İbrahim Yeşilyurt, our leading welding “usta,” which translates to master craftsman in Turkish.
There is so much to say about İbrahim Usta, yet so few words could describe his time and memories at Parla.
He came to Parla, then Ersah, as an apprentice at just 12 years old. Times were tough back then: The economic situation and social norms in Turkey permitted children to start joining the workforce at an early age, getting a head start in a profession and learning the crafts from an “usta”. Instead of going to a conventional trade school, learning by experience was a common practice in those days. Before joining us, İbrahim used to work at a construction site, but his dad brought him to Parla to start learning welding.
He is a native of İstanbul and of the Arnavutköy district, where the factory is located. When Parla’s current owners, Hakan and Burak Öztunçman’s father, Erdoğan, first employed him, İbrahim knew nothing about furniture, let alone welding.
Starting from the basics takes a lot of hard work and requires toughness and resilience to meet the requirements and standards of the “usta” before him. İbrahim recalls his learning experience to be extremely demanding, but one person looked out for him more than anyone.
“Erdoğan (Öztunçman) was like a father to me. At the time, there was nothing outside this factory in Arnavutköy, only a few settlements. When the working hours were over, it would be completely dark, and I had to walk home by myself at a young age. Erdoğan always used to drop me off at my home after the shifts. He was like a father to me. Always asked about my needs.”
In just three weeks, İbrahim quickly learned the ropes and his talent started to shine through his newly learned craft. Over the years, alongside all the laudable pieces he has created for our projects, he has also received recognition for what he creates. At the age of 25, he won an award for his speed at welding, becoming the quickest “usta” to complete a welding assignment given by a company in Turkey.
Recognising his talent, Erdoğan also later sent İbrahim to trade school to complete his welding certificate, formalising and celebrating his talent and expertise.
Now, at 47 years old, İbrahim’s two sons work alongside him in the same welding workshop where he started out. You may think it’s challenging to work with family, but he says his sons are as easygoing as they can be.
Coming to a close in our conversation, his eyes get teary after reminiscing. Now rounding up 35 years at Parla, having witnessed three generations of the Öztunçman family, it is safe to say İbrahim “usta” has found himself a second home here, and despite the long shifts and the physical toll welding has taken on him, he can’t let go of Parla.
When asked if he’s going to retire soon, he says:
“It is hard to say. Things are not how they used to be back then, but I can’t let go of all the memories I had with Erdoğan, Semra (Erdoğan’s wife), Burak and Hakan.”
Like İbrahim, every “usta” carries a meaningful and unique story, making up the ecosystem and the soul of Parla. It’s through these enduring bonds that we continue to grow, perfect our skills, and shape a brighter future for Parla.
