Lace Love.
"Epuu" is an Istanbul-based shop of women accessories made with high-quality venise lace mostly combined with chains, beads, metals and other textile supplies.
Designing accessories began as a hobby while studying Architecture, then it became a passion and a full-time job. Etsy allowed me to continue my creative life on a platform that I enjoy every process, begins with the hunt of lace till the very end of positive feedbacks.
Searching and hunting for lace is one of the most exciting process in my job, because it is the lace itself that inspires me, its beauty and feminine look. I love the potential of the piece that I have in my hands that it can be used as necklace, bracelet or earring apart from its original usage. I collect the laces from various of sources; vintage shops, bazaars, boutiques, etc. and it is why most of my designs are unique and one of a kind. Every piece follows a process before it gets to be designed; handwashing the item, ironing carefully and sometimes stifenning.
The design process varies according to the size, shape, durability, color of the lace. Sometimes I love the pattern and the shape so much that I just design it as a bib-necklace and they become a perfect statement accessory. But most of the time, I enjoy cutting and reshaping the lace, adding some chains, beads, metal shapes and giving them the unique look.
Then it comes to another process that I am also passionate about; photography. It is so hard to be both the model and the photographer but I enjoy every second. I take approximate 20-30 shots for each design to be able to present it in a best way that the customer can appreciate. After the photoshoot, there is the Photoshop and Etsy listing edits but then ... Ta daa! My designs are ready to be your favorite accessory.
Along with this exhausting process, the most encouraging thing that keeps me motivated is to see my design being shipped out of the door and handed to a happy customer somewhere in the world that I've never been.
More about ME;
"Since childhood, I’ve been surrounded by creativity. I was inspired by my father’s genius projects and sister’s paintings around the home. My mother could also paint, but her gift was crocheting. She could create anything out of crochet. As for me, I hadn’t discovered my talent yet. It wasn’t until high school when I first dabbled in something artistic — photography. My Nikon was the only necklace I had (I wasn’t fond of jewelry back then!). Along with photography came a clearer vision of the world; I discovered a love for buildings and architecture. I remember sketching cityscapes in school while everybody else was struggling with math problems.
It was so inspiring being surrounded by creative people when I decided to go to school to study architecture. I loved creating with my hands and tools, and my design approach began to take shape. Bold structures always impressed me, and I loved creating contrast, like a highly geometric mass cut with a curvy wall (which is now the main approach I use in my jewelry).
The school taught a lot about Istanbul, the city of contrast, and pushed me to discover it. There is no doubt that it’s one of the most inspiring cities in the world. I decided to take a break and discover life in Europe. I attended the Erasmus Program in Rome where I learned a lot about history, architecture, design, and fashion. The boutiques in Italy led me to discover the unique shapes and composition jewelry pieces could hold, which got me thinking.
The summer I returned from Europe, I felt a sudden urge to do something creative in addition to my schooling. I reflected on my recent experiences and ended up creating a jewelry line called EPUU, and I loved it. I had so many ideas and designs already in my head that were just waiting to come to fruition. By the time I graduated, I had to make a decision about my career. It was a difficult one, but I wanted to move forward with my jewelry line instead of architecture. I now love every aspect of my job: shopping, designing, modeling, being a photographer, and marketing. But most of all, I love engaging with customers and hearing feedback from people who love and respect what I do.
Until the age of 25 I had a set plan to follow for my life, but I now live a life that I couldn’t have even pictured a year ago, and it’s amazing. I like the excitement of not knowing how the future will be; I’m enjoying every second." *
*Published in Belle Armoire | Winter 2015
Thank you for stopping by and reading my story.
