More Than A Bundle Story

Ozcan Mustafa – The Bracelet That Bought My Freedom

Whilst my colleagues came to London for a better future, my arrival was for survival, an escape, a flee from more than what was an unhappy marriage. Today there are laws for marrying your daughters at the age I was married, of course this is for those who abide by them. Where patriarchy oozed through the walls from our homes into the streets of our neighbourhood. My dream was only big enough to find retreat beside my mother who lived next door, and sometimes even this was a challenge to reach with a toddler tugging on the hem of my skirt. Both my father and brother made sure to remind me I was raised to be a dutiful daughter to the family and a dutiful wife to my husband whatever the circumstance. Only it was my mother who showed me how to be dutiful to myself. Being the strong woman she was, she paid a discreet visit to the jewellers and sold her only bracelet for a few liras without my father’s knowledge. It appeared that the gold bracelet bought me a few items of clothing and paid for some administrative documents but in reality; it paved a way for my freedom. 

Leaving my 3-year-old son behind with my mother left a muted void in my heart but being surrounded by other mothers with similar stories to mine created a circle of consolation to us all. 

Unlike the wave of tailors and seamstresses who arrived to London in the late 1960s I had no knowledge of sewing on an industrial machine. It was at Irfan Nadir’s factory where they taught me how to sew a straight stitch. Whilst most of the workers were earning £18, I earnt £7.50 on my first week; I didn’t complain at all; I wasn’t producing any work; they were teaching me a skill and above all I was earning money for the first time. I told the girls at the factory I wanted to celebrate, so at the end of our shift we agreed to go to Whitechapel market. 

I knew I was here to save money but with the excitement of my first earnings I wanted to treat myself to a white handbag, something I’d be able to look back in years to come and say “this is what I bought with my first wages in London” I pressed down onto my pockets and searched my bag till I emptied it all out. The famous pickpockets of the big city I was warned about had got to my earnings before me. 

After manoeuvring my way around London to and from the factory like the stitching on the jackets I was now sewing, I had started to plan for the future. Within two years I had bought my first property in Istanbul, things were progressing the way I wanted. I had gone back to visit my son, and we agreed I’d come back for good when he was at the age to start school. I had calculated every detail and every expense; except I hadn’t planned to fall in love…

I had made quite a good circle of friends and we’d go out after work or at the weekends, only I’d never understand why the seat next to mine would always be empty. I’d ask why they wouldn’t sit with me, and they’d say ‘that seat is taken’ then miraculously Mustafa would appear and of course with the only seat available, he’d sit beside me. 

This continued for some time and Mustafa subtly made his way into my life. With his kind nature and loving heart, it was impossible not to fall in love with him. So instead of me returning to Istanbul, we brought over my son, and we had another two boys together. Whilst my mother taught me how to be dutiful to myself, Mustafa taught me what a loving husband and caring father should be like. 

Moving to London was one of the best decisions I made, I’ve raised 3 amazing children who gifted me with several grandchildren and together we have built endless memories.