The Muslim Post Featured Fatma Sevildi
The Muslim Post newspaper gave wide coverage to fashion designer Fatma Sevildi with an interview prepared by Tawfiqa Abdul Wahid on May 4, 2012.
FULL INTERVIEW
You can view the original version of the newspaper by clicking here . Turkish / English Tawfiqa Abdul Wahid: How did you start this business? Fatma Sevildi: I started drawing princesses with crinolines in my drawing book when I was 9-10 years old. I used to sew dresses for my dolls. I would also secretly experiment with my mother’s sewing machine. I completed my high school education in the Textile Department of Girls’ Vocational High School with the first place. I completed my higher education at Gazi University, Department of Fashion Design Teaching in 2008. Simultaneously with the university, I also attended the Styling Department of Ankara Olgunlatma Institute. After working as a freelance designer for a while after my education, I founded my fashion house in Istanbul in 2010. Today, I carry my interest in clothes and sewing, which I have always had since childhood, to a professional platform and continue my work on personalized evening dresses and wedding dresses.
Tawfiqa: How did you start this business? Fatma: I’ve started by drawing little girl’s pictures with puffy skirts when I was about 9-10 years old. I’d be sewing clothing for my toy characters. I’d also secretly practice sewing on my mother’s sewing machine. I’ve graduated from a textile high school for women as top of my class. I’ve started my college education in 2008 at Gazi University in Turkey, studying “Teaching Fashion Design.” At the same time, I’ve studied stylistics at the Ankara Olgunlasma Institute . After my educations and freelance, I’ve opened my own fashion house during 2010 in the city of Fatih located in Istanbul. I continue my high interest in sewing & fashion from my childhood years to my professional career today, and provide customized clothing for the groom and customized wedding dress designs at my shop today.Tawfiqa Abdul Wahid: Are there any designers you follow? Fatma Sevildi: I follow designers such as Jil Sander, Zuhair Murad and Zac Posen.
Tawfiqa: Are there any other designers that you follow? Fatma: Mostly, I follow Jil Sander, Zuhair Murad, and Zac Posen.Tawfiqa Abdul Wahid: Zac Posen gibi bazı moda tasarımcılarını takib ettiğini söyledin. Onların dizaynlarında neler senin ilgini çekiyor? Fatma Sevildi: Bir çok tasarımcıyı takip ediyorum. Zac Posen bunlardan sadece biri. Daha çok bir tarzı olan, farklı ve şık tasarımlar ilgimi çekiyor. Bense tasarımlarımda elegan bir çizgiye sahibim. İpek, şifon, dantel ve tül gibi kumaşlar vazgeçilmezlerim. Sezona göre değişen yeşiller, pembeler ve toprak tonlarını abiyelerimde kullanmayı seviyorum.
Tawfiqa: You mentioned that you follow certain designers such as Zac Posen. What intrigues you about their designs? Fatma: I follow many fashion designers. Zac Posen is just one of them. Mostly, one with manners, being different, and elegant designs intrigue me. I, on the other hand, have elegant fine line in my designs. Fabrics such as rayon, chiffon, lacework, and tulle are my must haves. I love using colors such as green, pink, and soil tones that differ depending on the season for my outfits.Tawfiqa Abdul Wahid: Gelinlik ve abiyelerinizi tasarlarken nelerden ilham alıyorsunuz? Fatma Sevildi: Önceliğim müşterimin hayalindeki tasarımı doğru olarak vücuda getirmek, yaşam tarzına, fiziki özelliklerine ve mekana uygun olarak tasarlamak. Koleksiyonlarımda ise tasarımlarımın geçmişten izler taşımasından yanayım. Ama bunu yaparken günümüze sentezleyerek modern ve özgün bir çizgi yakalamaya çalışıyorum.
Tawfiqa: When designing wedding dresses & clothing for the groom, what are some of the things that inspire you? Fatma: My priority is to bring out my clients individual needs & preferences in a physical manner, and design them based on their individual lifestyles, physical appearances, and appropriate for the environment that they live in. As for my collections, I’m in favor of having my design collections reflect traces from the past. However, I try to follow modern & unique line by synthesizing them to today’s time.Tawfiqa Abdul Wahid: Neden çoğunluk olarak gelinliklerde uzmansın? Fatma Sevildi: Türkiye’de bayanlar genellikle evlilik yada mezuniyet gibi törenlerde kişiye özel çalışmalar talep etmektedir. İnsanların bu en güzel günlerinde giydikleri elbiseyi tasarlamış olmak beni daha çok mutlu ediyor. Bu sebepten ilgimi gelinlik ve abiye tasarımlarında uzmanlaşmaya, kişiye özel (haute couture) çalışmaya yönelttim.
Tawfiqa: Why do you specialize mainly in wedding outfits? Fatma: In Turkey, the women mainly request customized dresses for wedding or graduation ceremonies. I become happier for designing such requests during these special occasions for them. For that reason, I’ve chosen to master myself in designing customized wedding outfits.Tawfiqa Abdul Wahid: Kazandığınız bir yarışma ya da ödüllü bir tasarımınız var mı? Fatma Sevildi: Evet var. Uluslararası tesettür elbise tasarım yarışması Silk Route StyleIn’de “Yeni Osmanlı” temalı tasarımımla, RabiaZ ve Adnan Khalid gibi dünyaca ünlü moda tasarımcılarından oluşan jurinin değerlendirmesi sonrası 2340 tasarım arasından sıyrılıp 15 finalist arasına girerek 8. oldum. -SILK ROUTE STYLEIN YARIŞMASI Tüm dünyada 300’den fazla noktada satılan SilkRoute, islami kurallarda örtünmek isteyen kardeşlerimize hizmet veren Londra merkezli bir Cilbab Abaya markası. İslami tasarım evi birlikteliğiyle kurulan firma ilk Cilbab Tasarım yarışmasını 2007’de gerçekleştirmiş. Ardından 2011’de Uluslararası tesettür elbise tasarım yarışması Silk Route StyleIn’i düzenlemiştir.
Tawfiqa: Have you received any awards for any of your designs or have you won any competition? Fatma: Yes, I have. I’ve competed in a “Silk Route Style In” competition. With jury, consisting of some of the most famous designers around the world such as RabiaZ and Adnan Khalid, out of 2340 designers, I was one of the 15 finalists, and with my “New Ottoman” themed design, I was rewarded the 8th place at the end out of those 15 finalists. – SILK ROUTE “STYLE IN” COMPETITION Silk Route, a Jilbab/Abaya Brand based in London, UK, has been designing, manufacturing and selling a contemporary and innovative interpretation of the long dress worn by many Muslim women for over 5 years. They are now distributing to over 300 sellers around the world and are sold via the Islamic Design House e-commerce websites in UK, USA, Canada, Egypt and Jordan and distributors in Nigeria and South Africa. Their first franchise store partnering with Islamic Design House opened in Jordan, Amman, in Ramadan 2010. Silk Route pioneered the idea of an online Jilbab design competition back in 2007, the response was phenomenal, with over 100 submissions and 60000 people participating and we recruited the top designers into our design team. Once again, in a pursuit to encourage and support the talent of young aspiring Muslims everywhere, Silk Route StyleIn! Jilbab Design 2011 competition will be launching on a huge global platform. Budding designers from professional and non-professional backgrounds can showcase their designs to millions of people around the world.Tawfiqa Abdul Wahid: Türkiye’deki tesettürlü bayanların giyim tarzını nasıl buluyorsunuz? Fatma Sevildi: Türkiye’deki müslüman hanımlar sosyal hayatta aktif oldukları gibi artık iş hayatında da aktif olmaya başladılar. Bundan sebeple önceki yıllardan daha rahat ve şıklar diyebilirim…
Tawfiqa: What are your thoughts about the clothing designs that Muslim women wear in Turkey today? Fatma: The women in Turkey today have become active not only in their own social lifestyles but also in the workplace. For that reason, I’d say they’re more relaxed and stylish today.Tawfiqa Abdul Wahid: What advice do you have for young designers? Fatma Sevildi: First of all, I recommend that Muslim women believe that they can be stylish, be open to innovations, and patiently receive the necessary training to improve themselves in this field.
Tawfiqa: What are your recommendations for the young fashion designers? Fatma: I’d recommend that they also believe that Muslim women can also be stylish, be open to innovations, and educate themselves in this area with great patience.Tawfiqa Abdul Wahid: What are your plans for the future? Fatma Sevildi: As a young Muslim fashion designer, I want to carry the Fatma Sevildi brand forward in hijab clothing and at the same time continue my academic career…
Tawfiqa: What are your future plans? Fatma: By being a young Muslim fashion designer, carry my “Fatma Sevildi” brand to further in the fashion design industry for the Muslim women, and continue my education to improve my career.
