ZHL, Istanbul, Turkey, established 2002
Specialists: 160 people
Average wage: 300 EUR per month, plus overtime pay
Work hours: 9 hours/day
Breaks: 2 x 15 min. tea breaks and 1 x 60 min. lunch break
Last visit: March 2023
ZHL was founded by Munir in 2002 and is today known for making particularly complicated and high-quality garments. Munir has worked with textiles since he was 16 years old and has always preferred working in a niche and being specialised.
So at first, when we approached them, ZHL hesitated to craft trousers—a new category to them.
Today, trousers make up a third of what ZHL makes, and the nature of our partnership, being specialists working with specialists, has made it a valuable partnership for both.
ZHL is a family-founded, family-owned and family-driven textile business. Munirs two sons, Nedim and Ali, are in their twenties and now work as part of the day-to-day operations in the company alongside Munir's partner, Hatice, who's been into textiles since the age of 11. Being a joyous and determined spirit, Munir works daily on the production floor, being available to his production crew, passing on decades of wisdom, and doing what he can to ensure quality, attention to detail and happy faces.
Meet Mehmet
What do you do?
I iron the trousers as the last step before quality control.
As a specialist, what's important to you?
It's important that I hand over a pair of clean and well-ironed trousers.
Why do you love your job?
It's all new to me, but I love my new job so far. And my new colleagues!
Meet Melek
What do you do?
I do quality control, ensuring last-step perfection.
As a specialist, what's important to you?
To me, it's all in the details.
Why do you love your job?
I love the responsibility—it's the last step before someone gets to wear what I've held in my hands.
