Tugce Ozacak

For the last couple of years, I have been following the Turkish designer Tugce Ozacak throughout her fashion journey. After studying in Antwerp, Tugce decided that she wanted to create a brand that fused her Turkish heritage and love for European culture together.

Coming from a Turkish family whom over the years have become quite westernised when it comes to their culture and fashion, my aunties and cousins always spoke about how the preferred to purchase clothing from international brands because they liked the designs more and felt as if they were more modern to them. But sadly, they have also faced a lot of backlash because the choose not to dress traditionally. My family are all from Ankara, the capital of Turkey but also known as the grey land as compared to places like Istanbul, Ankara is very plain. I introduced them to Tugce and her clothes and they instantly adore her work. Her designs are always inspired by her love of the colour and the eccentric culture that comes from Turkey whereas the shape and cut of her designs are influenced by her love for European culture. By fusing these together not only has it created beautiful garments but it’s has also given a new sense of confidence to my family, my aunties and cousin are proud to purchase from a Turkish designer and wear clothes that are more their style but also celebrate their culture in way that is fashionable to them. They no longer feel ashamed of dressing differently and actually love it when someone asks where they got an item of their clothing from.

Her SS19 collection was filled with gorgeous design that represented her passion behind designing so clearly, some of my favourite outfits from this are those that are adore in the traditional patterns that you will see all around Turkey. She is based in Istanbul which is the essentially the heart of Turkey and I cannot wait to begin to see her brand grow more in the years to come.