LESSONS IN BUSINESS
FROM THE WOMEN BEHIND ODDBIRD
CEREN, FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR
BUILD A TEAM THAT COMPLETES THE PUZZLE
Build a team with strengths in your areas of weakness – working with my sister and cousin has been my greatest blessing. My strength is design. Cagil’s strength is the ethical production of that design. Hazal’s strength is marketing that design to build a beautiful community.
Each of us have no idea how to do the other’s job and it’s beautiful that way. We stay out of each other’s lanes and support with our own skill set to create a trifecta of business management!
FIND YOUR NICHE & BE THE EXPERT IN IT THROUGH RICH BRAND STORY
When establishing Oddbird, instead of focusing on creating a broad fashion brand that ultimately competes with trends and expensive and wasteful seasonal production – we chose a niche within the endless fashion spectrum- finding our voice in the seasonless staples in ‘lounge’. My own experience mother informed my design and OB’s pieces became geared toward women who were needing elevated comfort pieces that would transition with them throughout a woman’s busy day while also being nursing friendly. Within ‘lounge’ we went even more niche and focused on every piece being pregnancy and postpartum friendly. This meant that we weren’t competing directly with as many other businesses but were able to build a community that needed specific needs met. This was a great place to grow from and have us a unique voice.
ESTABLISH YOUR PILLARS AND LET THEM LEAD YOU
Establish your brand pillars and adhere to them without compromise. These will be your both your guide as your business inevitably changes over time and your foundation as you grow.
Ours are
ETHICAL PRACTICES
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION
QUALITY
AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.
The 4 most important components in how we do business.
Without them, it’s easy to lose your way. With them, your brand stays true, no matter the season.
CAGIL, HEAD OF PRODUCTION
RELATIONSHIPS ARE EVERYTHING
From our weavers in Türkiye to the women wearing our pieces around the world, everything we do is built on connection. The trust we’ve cultivated with our artisans, suppliers, and customers isn’t just good business—it’s the heart of our brand. When you treat people well and lead with honesty, you open the door to collaboration, creativity, and opportunities you never saw coming. This industry runs on relationships.
Nurture them like your business depends on it—because it does.
ADAPTABILITY IS SURVIVAL
When we started Oddbird, we didn’t try to chase trends or build a broad fashion brand. Instead, we zoomed in on a space that felt personal and purposeful: timeless loungewear designed for comfort, versatility, and real life. As a new mother, I knew firsthand the need for pieces that could transition from dawn to dusk, while being nursing-friendly and gentle on the body. So we went niche within a niche—creating staples that support pregnancy, postpartum, and everything in between. It allowed us to carve out a clear voice in a crowded market and connect deeply with a community that
felt seen.
CRAFTSMANSHIP & SUSTAINABILITY ALWAYS WINS
Partnering with skilled artisans, choosing sustainable materials, and prioritizing ethical production isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s the only way forward.
Fast trends come and go, but brands built on integrity and quality will always outlast the noise. The future belongs to those who create with care.
HAZAL, GENERAL MANAGER
LISTEN CLOSELY TO YOUR CUSTOMER
It’s easy to get caught up in what you think your brand should be or what you want to create. But the clearest direction comes from the people who show up, time and time again—your customers. Their responses, their feedback, their questions—they’re quietly shaping your path. Bring them into your process. Pull back the curtain. Let them see the real work behind the scenes. With that kind of honesty and connection, all you have to do is listen— and the value takes care of itself.
LEAD WITH INTENTION
It’s easy to get caught up in growth, profit, and chasing what’s next—but at the heart of it, business should be about doing good. We believe we’ve been given this opportunity not just to create, but to care: for our families, our team, the artisans who bring our pieces to life, and the customers who invite us into their homes. The moment you let greed or ego steer the ship, things start to come undone. But when your decisions are rooted in kindness and integrity, good things follow. Always.
STRENGTHEN YOUR RISK APPETITE
Owning and scaling a business isn’t for the faint of heart. But over time, your tolerance for risk will grow alongside your confidence. Don’t be afraid to make bold moves— even failure has value when you’ve got a solid Plan B ready to go. You don’t need to see the whole path to take the first step, but you do need to be prepared for the bumps along the way.
