The lives, loves and sacrifices of London’s Turkish garment workers take centre stage in Unhemmed, the debut novel by British-Turkish writer Emel Zeyni Sevinç, published today, Thursday 5 November. The English-language novel is accompanied by a Turkish edition, Teyel, which is also available online from today.
Both books will be on sale at a special launch in Walthamstow next Thursday, combining readings with an exhibition celebrating the migrant generation whose experiences inspired her work.
Published by Grosvenor House Publishing, Unhemmed takes readers inside a clothing factory in 1980s East London. Its story unfolds through several perspectives over a single day: Friday 13 October 1989.
Among its characters are Aysel and her husband Tarık, who arrive from Türkiye intending to work and save for a year before returning home. When their plans change, Aysel must reconsider the life she thought lay ahead.
Their story intersects with those of a socialist carrying the scars of Türkiye’s 1980 military coup, a factory owner’s son wrestling with faith and identity, and a second-generation young woman questioning the expectations surrounding her arranged marriage. Through their connected lives, the novel explores belonging, family obligations and the tensions between personal hopes and community expectations.
For Sevinç, these themes also run through her work as a researcher and curator. She founded ‘More Than a Bundle Story’ to preserve the experiences of Turkish-speaking migrants who came to Britain from the 1960s onwards, many finding work as machinists, cutters, tailors and seamstresses.
Drawing on oral histories, photographs and personal belongings, the project records the everyday lives behind an industry that helped sustain families and establish communities across East London. In 2025, it featured in an exhibition developed in partnership with Hackney Museum.
The subject has a personal resonance for the London-born author, whose own parents migrated from Türkiye. On the project’s website, she recalls their intention to return home when her sister turned seven — a plan that eventually took 40 years to fulfil.
“These stories honour the journeys, sacrifices and hopes carried across borders, offering a testament to the lives that shaped our communities,” Sevinç said.
A writer and educator, Sevinç also founded the creative writing initiative Scribbles, has delivered community workshops and has had her work published in Writerly Magazine.
On Thursday 12 November, she will bring the novel and heritage project together at Big Penny Social Studios in Walthamstow for a free evening open to the public.
The exhibition will recreate elements of the world inhabited by the community, with a factory corner, a Turkish men’s coffeehouse and a home setting, alongside photographs and objects capturing everyday life during the period.
Sevinç told T-VINE she will give a short talk about More Than a Bundle Story, as well as the inspiration and writing process behind Unhemmed. The evening will also include readings of short extracts in English and Turkish.
Copies will be available to buy on the night, with the English paperback and Turkish edition priced at £10.99 each, and the English hardback at £20.99.
Readers unable to attend can buy Unhemmed online through Waterstones, Foyles and Amazon. The English edition is available in paperback, hardback and e-book formats.
Event details
Event: Unhemmed Book Launch & More Than a Bundle Story Exhibition Showcase
Date: Thursday 12 November 2026
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Big Penny Social Studios, 1 Priestley Way, Walthamstow, London E17 6AL
Admission: Free; advance booking recommended
Booking: Reserve your place on Eventbrite
Further information:
morethanabundlestory.com
Instagram: @mel.scribbles / @more_than_a_bundle_story
