Born in Niğde, Turkey, Mustafa Açikel began learning the carpet trade from his father at a young age. After moving to Ankara, he helped in the family shop and sold handmade goods on the street by age eight. In 1972, the family relocated to Bodrum, where Mustafa worked summers in the shop and studied business and languages in Ankara during the winter. He speaks Turkish, English, and Italian, with some French and German. Following his college graduation, he returned to Bodrum to join the business full-time. With over 20 years of experience, he now travels across Turkey to source the finest carpets and kilims, earning a reputation for quality and reliability.