Born in Istanbul (Turkey), Nihan Peker is a friendly, genuinely nice person who just happens to make drop-dead-gorgeous clothes! Being the wonderful gal she is, Nihan recently took some time out of her schedule to chat with me about her design philosophy and more.
Radhika- Nihan,please share with us how you began your journey as a fashion designer. What happened after you finished the fashion design college?
Nihan- I remember a small pink sewing machine, and myself as a 6 years old kid and now I see that nothing has changed except the size and the colour of my sewing machine.
I pursued a course in Fashion & Textile design. It was important to learn more about fashion and art history, printing, weaving, sewing and all fashion states and techniques. It was all necessary but now I feel more free and independent outside the college.After all, it’s a great feeling to stand on ones own feet.
Featured above is a set of designs from Nihans collection-The Buffoons
Radhika- What is your design philosophy and which aspect of haute couture you enjoy the most ?
Nihan- To wake up for it ! That’s my philosophy and not to merge in a vicious circle. Design should be like a first sight love and it must tell some words which are unique than others. That’s why I want to define myself as a storyteller in the garb of a fashion designer.
Featured above is a set of designs from Nihans latest collection -The Paradox
I try to enrich my collection with prose poems because your collection is translated into your language to communicate your idea with the world , each piece becomes your word and I want to make good sentences in the end. I prefer doing more pret-a-porter things than doing haute-couture to reach more people but then, I enjoy them all.
Radhika- What’s you’re favourite era of fashion? What can we expect to see from Nihan in the future?
Nihan- Definitely the the groovy 60s and I also like the period between the flared 70s and the grunge 90s but I think every era has something worth remembering and re-living.
Everytime it is nice to see things evolving but if you remain unchanged nothing will change.
Against time I am trying to make timeless pieces .In the long turn you will see my new collection Paradox and my ropes in it again. Also greige fabrics, hand-made colours, mixed materials, dirty-finishings, new forms with way-out materials. A touch of simplicity and complexity, like a silence in a chaos. I like the look of spiritual, meaningful, clean and chaotic way of clothes. That’s why I call it a Paradox. My plans for future is to continue working on my new collection and to continue growing.
Featured above are designs from Nihans latest collection- The Paradox
Radhika- What kind of person do you imagine wearing your clothing?
Nihan- A person who has knowledge about what he/she is wearing and knows to smile.
Featured above are some of the unique designs by Nihan
But if you are asking for a personification, I want to see the pieces from my collection The Whirling Dervishes on Mercan Dede also known as DJ Allen who is a world famous music artist and a real composer. I can visualize in my mind - symphony orchestra wearing my clothes(laughs)
Radhika- Any closing thoughts?
Nihan- I wish people should take rebirth so that they spiritually relate to reality while at the same time they should have a touch of perfection, peace and love in their heart.
Featured above is a design from Nihans latest collection- The Paradox
Before we wrap up the interview let’s have a few more questions -
If I weren’t talking to you right now I’d be ... sewing and thinking to lower the count of coffees I drink in a day.
A phrase I use too often ... I hope so
I’m good at ... loving black
You know me as a fashion designer but in a truer life I’d have been ... a junk dealer!
I wish people would take more notice of ...children, humanity and honesty!
In a nutshell, my philosophy is this ... like the name of Vivienne Westwoods first store : Let it rock!
