Why I created Mertese—and why I call it Hairwear

I didn’t create Mertese because I wanted to make another hair accessory.
I created it because I was tired of choosing.

Choosing between protecting my hair and feeling put together.
Choosing between care and confidence.
Choosing between what worked for my hair and what felt appropriate to wear in public.

That tension—quiet, constant, and rarely acknowledged—is what led to Mertese.

The Gap I Couldn’t Ignore

For years, hair protection lived in the background of daily life. Products designed to preserve moisture, reduce friction, and protect styles were often treated as something temporary—meant for sleep, for home, for moments unseen.

But hair care doesn’t end at bedtime. It doesn’t pause when we step outside. It’s ongoing, personal, and deeply tied to how we move through the world.

I wanted something different. I wanted hair protection that felt intentional—designed not just to work, but to be worn.

Why I Use the Term “Hairwear”

That’s why I use the term hairwear to describe Mertese products.

Hairwear represents purposeful design and purposeful wear. Much like apparel categories such as shapewear or sleepwear, hairwear names a specific function while still honoring style and lifestyle. These are products created to support you—not interrupt you—as you move through your day.

Traditional terms like bonnets, scarves, or hair accessories never fully captured what I was building. They describe objects, not intention. They often imply something temporary or private, something you put on and then take off before life begins.

Hairwear is different.

What Hairwear Is—and Isn’t

Hairwear is intentionally designed to transition across moments and environments—from night to morning, from indoors to outdoors, from rest to movement. It allows protection and presentation to coexist.

You don’t have to remove it before leaving the house.
You don’t have to sacrifice style for care.
You don’t have to choose.

Mertese products transcend traditional labels because they were designed to live where real life happens. They are not simply coverings or accessories. They are hairwear—designed to protect the hair while being worn as part of everyday life.

The Deeper Meaning Behind Mertese

At its core, Mertese is about honoring how women actually live. It’s about ease without carelessness, beauty without effort, and protection without compromise.

We design for women who treat their hair like a crown. Women who understand that rest is powerful, intention matters, and self-respect shows up in the details.

Hairwear is clothing for your hair—created to be lived in, styled with confidence, and worn wherever life takes you.

That belief is what shaped Mertese. And it’s what continues to guide everything we create.