The Minds Behind Upcycle Hero & Loading Bag

Merging Decades of Corporate Expertise with Sustainable Innovation and Artistry

İlker Karagöz
Founder & Social Entrepreneur

Following 16 years of corporate procurement and employee engagement management at Turkcell, İlker studied NGO Management (Civil Society Development) at Bilgi University. He built his international market expertise by managing sales and growth strategies for Dakine-Shop.de-one of Germany's leading bag and accessory platforms-successfully coordinating its acquisition by a major US enterprise. Trained in social innovation at the Social Entrepreneurship Akademie (SEA) in Munich, İlker serves on the boards of Germany-based 12MIN.ME e.V. and Deutschzentrum München e.V., as well as Turkey's Alternative Life Association (AYDER). He champions industrial waste upcycling as a premium, global fashion experience.

Gizem Eroğlu
Co-Founder & Lead Designer

Bringing a rich artistic background in crafting custom accessories for high-fashion runway shows and designing detailed period costumes for major film and television sets, Gizem is the creative force behind Loading Bag. As Co-Founder and Lead Designer, she masterfully evaluates discarded industrial remnants-from retired truck tarps to complex automotive textiles-curating their colors, textures, and vintage fades to create "perfectly imperfect" (one-of-a-kind) everyday companions that merge street-style aesthetics with extreme durability.