“There are really exciting things happening in the name of fashion in Istanbul,” said Sudi Etüz.
Sudi Etüz is one of the designers from Kumpanya 62. Everyone knows the venue as a nice designer shop, but it is more than that.
The shop gathers 12 designers; Başak Tinli, Filiz Dana, Gonca Karadeniz, İpek Arnas, Leylan Gökçe, Pırıl Sürmen, Seher Şehirli, Sudi Etüz, Tanya Çankar, Tuğçe Ülkümen,Vivet Yeruşalmi and Zeynep Yavuz.
The main aim of the shop is to deliver the new creations of the young designers to people. “Kumpanya 62 is a store but is also a project,” said Etüz.
The project was launched by La Salle graduate Sudi Etüz and Bahar Arasan, another designer educated in Milan.
Both of them have been very close friends for many years. The main idea behind the curtains of their project is to help other designers in Istanbul and Turkey.
“We are not looking for a lucrative outcome,” said Etüz. “Our main aim is to reach designers and help their designs reach fashion lovers.”
Speaking about the current situation of Istanbul in terms of fashion, Etüz said Istanbul is going to be a fashion capital of the world in the near future.
“We all graduated from La Salle. My aim is to create a ‘design campaign’ for my friends and support those people who want to make their mark on the fashion scene,” she said.
The designers work in the basement of the shop. The environment is hot but not because of the weather but because of the new and fresh “baked” designs coming onto the entrance floor every day.
“We are following the current popular culture. We opened the store with a concept and our first concept was ‘Alice in Wonderlands,’” said Etüz, adding that they will continue with exclusive concepts for the coming season.
The store is an example of how to be a real designer. “We are doing everything in the basement. We are choosing the fabrics ourselves and try to create the best looks,” said Etüz.
It is important to know fashion history in order to create and design, according to Etüz.
Being young and energetic surely affected those young designers. They work with enthusiasm.
“Currently, fashion festivals and fairs in Istanbul excite us a lot. We would like to be a part of those exciting events,” said Etüz.
While being a part of conventional events, Kumpanya 62 also would like to keep its unconventional ways and continue to be different.
Currently, the shop looks a circus or an Alice in Wonderland setting. When you enter the venue, first it makes you feel like you have stepped out of the real world and walked into an epic story setting.
Not only the store’s concept is in harmony with Kumpanya 62’s unconventional fashion ideas, but also dresses reflect the designers’ originality.
The fabric choices and designs make you feel that if you own a dress or a shirt from the store, then you will be a hero in an epic Istanbul story.
With its colorful and enjoyable dresses hanging everywhere, the concept captures the visitors.
“Though it is exhausting and hard, we enjoy every minute of it,” said Arasan. “Now we are considering that our next concept to be a part of Turkish cultural heritage. We are creating each piece of our collection in line with our new concept.”
Kumpanya 62 stands as a most interesting example of Istanbul’s fashion scene and the creators are willing to carry it further with their exclusive and particular ways.