We recently connected with Khan Turgut and have shared our conversation below.
Khan, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
As a Muslim person, I can confirm that my motivation really comes from Allah (god in Arabic). As an entrepreneur who started her business around 1,5 years ago, I can definitely say that it really isn’t that easy to continue. It really isn’t that easy to stay alive in this industry as an independent label. Whenever I feel like giving up, He really inspires me and really gives me a reality check! So, long story short, my optimism comes from Allah and Islam.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am Khan, I’m a 23 years old Muslim, POC, person. I’m the founder and Creative Director of Guovarde, an international model, DJ and style consultant based in Istanbul, Berlin, Paris. Furthermore, I identify myself as an ambassador of Central Anatolia! My work is based on real stories, its inspired by pain! I always create with my culture, religion and my people! A lot of people are concerning that I’m super inclusive but, I never really create my work to be inclusive. I just represent my people and my community!
My label Guovarde is a Muslim, POC, Anatolian owned high fashion label. We really are the borderlines between Anatolia and the whole world! We are totally genderless. As a company, we break any kind of norms in fashion. Our products are not categorized by menswear, womenswear, modest or non-modest wear.
We are now available and represented in Berlin, Paris, Istanbul and Los Angeles. In the past year, we have racked up numerous collections and got represented in magazines, gathered press around the world and our latest collection was selected to be in the “How to Dior, and his successors” exhibition for the Kunstgewerbemuseum in Berlin.
We were recently named as one of the ‘rebel’ emerging labels by i-D Italy and Highsnobiety nominated us for the BERLIN,BERLIN prize award.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
My path started really early and from the first day on I was always here to work hard and learn! Assisting creative directors for their collections and shows really qualified me as a creative and designer! I randomly started sewing without any knowledge, and it was the best decision ever! Tailoring, pattern making and sewing has to become an expertise of yours if you want to get into the business.
And the last one would be learning the fashion systems such as development, digital manipulations, fashion mathematics, These things can really help you to understand the industry and work in it.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
When I first started my business I really thought I would win the LVMH prize, be in the FW calendar and have over 100 retailers within a year (lol). The last 12 months really taught me to go with the flow and accept that great things really needs time. I really learned to not rush over and enjoy the process since the process is somewhere the final goal.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.guovarde.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guovarde/
Image Credits
Photography: Yuko Kotetsu Creative Direction: Khan Turgut Casting Director: Eli Xavier Model: Amie
