Being a designer and a dancer, I started designing and constructing dance costumes as well. It was a very busy and intense period for several years. In 2005 I moved back to Turkey, Istanbul after having lived abroad in three different countries for 10 years. I started working as a designer, but I was so overqualified that I became very unhappy in the fashion industry in Turkey.
1. Tell us about your background and journey.
I am born and raised in Turkey. I went to an American HighSchool in the South of Turkey, Tarsus American HighSchool, which is also my hometown. After high school, I moved to Istanbul to continue my university education at the Marmara University of Fine Arts, majoring in Ceramics. Since it has always been my dream to study Fashion Design in Italy, I moved to Florence to pursue my dream.
I completed the “International Fashion Design Programme” which was offered by Polimoda in Italy and FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) in New York. I graduated at the top of my class and got several job offers in New York where I worked as an Assistant Designer for one year. After my New York experience, I moved to Amsterdam, Holland, where I worked as a Designer for Tommy Hilfiger Europe Office.
Shortly after moving to Amsterdam, I was introduced to the Brazilian and Latin dances and I discovered yet another passion. Apparently, I was very talented, and only after taking classes for one year, I was offered to be an assistant teacher at the dance school and also asked to be part of the Show group. During the day, I was working as a full-time designer and in the evenings I was teaching dance classes almost every night and on the weekends I was going on stage with the Show group.
Being a designer and a dancer, I started designing and constructing dance costumes as well. It was a very busy and intense period for several years. In 2005 I moved back to Turkey, Istanbul after having lived abroad in three different countries for 10 years. I started working as a designer, but I was so overqualified that I became very unhappy in the fashion industry in Turkey.
I decided to pursue dancing so I started giving dance classes and then I started my own dance group. I made several dance costumes and practiced with my students. We gave performances in several organizations and events. (we still have many videos on youtube, you can search with my name, Zeynep Deniz) In the meantime, I realized I loved teaching so I wanted to continue my fashion journey as a teacher.
I went to one of the fashion schools in Istanbul and showed them my portfolio and my cv and I was asked to begin teaching the next day. For a couple of years, I taught in a few different fashion schools in Istanbul and realized that once again I was overqualified. It was very upsetting for me to see that the education system in Turkey was taken over by capitalism and that hardly ever anything was actually being taught in Fashion schools.
Being an idealist person and being very passionate about teaching, I decided to quit teaching in so-called schools in Istanbul and give private lessons to students who are serious and passionate about fashion and learning. All my students so far have been accepted to the best fashion schools in the world as exceptional students and I am so proud of all of them.
I have been teaching students who want to study abroad, I help them prepare a fashion portfolio, I teach fashion designers who want to improve their drawing skills, I teach sewing, technical drawings, how to design a collection, garment details such as ruffles, cascades, pleats, shirts, dresses, skirts, trousers, coats, jackets, etc…and coloring techniques.
Markers, watercolors, colored pencils, airliners, and also presentation techniques. Most of my students reach me through my Instagram account or word of mouth. I have students from all over the world because I also teach online. I have students from many years ago, who contact me and thank me for learning so much from me and that is the biggest satisfaction for me.
2. When and how did you decide to pursue designing?
I was 10 years old when I decided I wanted to be a fashion designer. I remember being mesmerized watching movies of Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Ginger Rogers, Audrey Hepburn, etc.. and being fascinated by the costumes and the dance scenes. I had this burning desire in my heart for clothes, colors, music, and creation.
There was a period when I also considered going to the conservatory for music since I had been playing the piano. I was six years old when I started playing the piano and about four years old when I started sketching. I was also singing in my high school orchestra. So music was also a passion for me. Eventually, the world of fashion with colors and fabrics and drawings and clothes felt more exciting to me and I decided that was my path.
Back then, there were no fashion schools in Turkey, there were only two universities with fine art departments and fashion was not offered. So I decided to get a basic art education and then go abroad to study fashion. Studying fashion design in Italy had always been my wish. I had written letters and asked for brochures and info about the education to all the fashion schools in Italy.
After thorough research, I had decided to prepare a portfolio and take the design test for the “International Fashion Design Programme” offered in Polimoda, Florence, and also FIT, NY. Since two schools were in collaboration, it was a program which was half in Italy and half in New York. I was accepted for the program and completed the first half of my study in Florence and the second half in New York and graduated at the top of my class with an award.
3. How would you describe your illustration style?
I have had amazing instructors both at Polimoda and at FIT and they had a very big influence on my illustration style. I don’t know how to describe it specifically but I think I can say that it's very distinctive. People will surely recognize my work even without my signature.
4. What makes a good design?
It totally depends on the customer profile. For what purpose the design was made, who will be wearing it, where will they wear it the material of the garment, the technical details what was the budget, how much will it cost in the stores, etc.
5. Who is your favorite illustrator and why?
I have many favorite illustrators. At the top of my list would be my instructors at Polimoda and FIT. Lisa Feuerherm and Steven Stipelman. Since we have internet and technology, we have access to so many great illustrators' artworks and I find it so inspiring and amazing.
6. How would you describe your muse?
My muse is my passionate curiosity. I love life, nature, art, music, and anything that’s beautiful and aesthetic. I read a lot, watch movies, travel and if a person is intended to be inspired, inspiration will come from anywhere.
7. What message would you give to aspiring fashion illustrators?
I would tell them to live passionately and curiously. Loving what you do and doing what you love is an amazing gift in life. We inspire each other not just by our artworks but with our way of life, our beliefs, personalities, and our view on life. After all, this is what we transfer from our pencils into our artworks.
8. Which is your favorite book and why?
I love books that inspire me in some way. So I don’t specifically have only one favorite but several favorites. Ayn Rand is a very inspiring author for me, as well as Jeffrey Archer and JK Rawling, JR Tolkien, David Eagleman, Joe Dispenza and I, can go on and on.
In 1998, Zeynep Deniz moved to Amsterdam where she worked as a Designer and also got introduced to the Brazilian Dances which became a passionate hobby for her. Discovering her talent in the dancing field, Deniz mastered the Brazilian Dances such as Zouk, Axe, Samba de Pe, Samba Pagode, Samba de Gafieira, Forro, Bolero, and stepped into teaching.
Besides her Design job, she also became a Dance Instructor and started dancing in the Show group of the Dance School. In 2002 together with the Dance Group, she went to Brazil where she got several lessons and attended workshops with the famous Brazilian Dancer Jaime Aroxa. She worked with different companies including Tommy Hilfiger in Amsterdam as a designer and returned to Istanbul in the summer of 2004.
In 2005, she started teaching Fashion at the International LaSalle Academy. In the meantime, she was also teaching and giving workshops on Brazilian Dances in several Dance Schools, Universities, organizations, and fairs. In 2007 she started her own dance group called Axe Loca, the only Axe Bahia (Brazilian Street Dance) dance group of Turkey. The same year, 2007, she also began teaching Fashion at the Istanbul Technical University ITU / FIT Fashion design SUNY Program.
She had taught several classes at the University such as Live model drawing, sketching and illustration techniques, rendering, collections, presentation techniques, Leather Design, etc. Deniz continued working on herself by attending several personal developments and coaching training and received a Transform Breathing Coaching certificate and worked with groups as well as personal sessions. She is currently giving private lessons in Fashion Design and Fashion Portfolio in her Istanbul-based studio and also online.
Interviewed By - Anshika Maurya
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