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Which place do you currently call home and where do you work on your projects?

I’m based in Ankara, Türkiye. The “boring capital” caught between the Middle East and Europe. Despite its reserved nature, Ankara is a city where change is always brewing, often quietly but powerfully. I work from a small studio inside my apartment where I design and craft, especially my hot enamel pieces. But our work stretches far beyond this space.

Our projects are brought to life by an amazing team of 36 women across Türkiye, many of them living along the Black Sea and other regions, who skilfully craft our fashion accessories based on the patterns I design.

I currently work from a home studio, a small but sun filled space where materials, sketches, and half-finished charms live in organized chaos. The shelves are lined with enamel samples, stones, threads, and bits of discarded metals waiting to be transformed. It’s a soft, lived in corner of my home that’s both comforting and endlessly inspiring: full of warm light, textured surfaces, and quiet rhythm.

In addition to that, I’m in the final stages of opening a separate atelier in the region of Ankara. It will be a dedicated space to share my work more publicly, meet collaborators, and allow the tactile, layered world of hâl:hab to exist beyond the screen.

Are there any projects that are personally important to you—whether recently completed or currently in progress?

Right now, I’m working on a meaningful collaboration with Hermann Club, a women-led sustainable brand. Together, we’re creating a series of expressive charms using Radriska seeds, Carnelian stones, and repurposed materials. These pieces are layered and vibrant: they move, they resonate, and they transform forgotten fragments into something full of spirit.

Do you have a favourite place in your area where you like to relax and linger?

I love spending time in old Ankara, especially around the Ulus and Kale regions. The atmosphere there is rich with art and craftsmanship. You can find a master (usta) for almost anything you dream of making. In this part of the city, “no” is rarely an option when it comes to creativity and production. I feel deeply inspired wandering these streets, witnessing the way tradition and modernism intertwine so naturally.

Are there any urgent political issues or problems in your region?

Coming from a place that sits between the West and the Middle East, not having political issues has never really been an option, not since the 1400s, or maybe even earlier. As I mentioned before, change is constant here, whether it moves us toward something better or something more difficult.

Türkiye acts as a bridge between cultures, and this continuous cultural exchange inevitably brings both richness and tension.I believe that labelling something as a “problem” is often a choice in how we frame it.

Political tension, however, is almost an expected occurrence in societies like ours—places that have always welcomed many influences, ideas, and contradictions. In a way, the only thing that never changes here is the fact that change itself is constant.

In your opinion, what has developed well in the last 5 years—and what has not?

In the last five years, the global culture of the panopticon, where everyone becomes their own surveillance has taken hold. People have become more careful about how they act, eat, talk, and exist in public spaces. If we choose to see it positively, it may have helped lower crime rates and reduced some forms of societal stress. At the same time, this culture has deeply restricted free speech and fuelled the rise of cancel culture.

But there’s a paradox: while this oppression limits open expression, it has also pushed people to find new, more creative ways to express themselves. Many have developed their own languages through art, music, and alternative forms of communication. In a way, oppression has sparked unexpected creativity forcing expression to evolve rather than disappear.

Do you know a hidden gem when it comes to local manufacturers—whether it’s arts and crafts, sustainable products or food?

Türkiye is full of hidden gems as almost every artist I interact with has incredible talent. Platforms like Local Makers are doing amazing work in bringing many of these creators together. They even have their own shop in Firuzağga, Istanbul, where you can discover a wide range of worksincluding some of my own pieces.

Similarly, in Ankara, Impact Hub has a shop featuring artists who create for good causes and social impact, and my works are also available there. Especially among artists who create from discarded materials, there’s a strong and inspiring community that proves creativity often flourishes where others see only waste.

Is there anything particularly innovative in your region? Also in comparison to other places you have already visited?

One thing I find particularly innovative in Türkiye is the strong culture of supporting local and small-scale artists and businesses. It’s very common for people here to intentionally seek out and appreciate the work of local creators not just in the arts, but across all types of small enterprises. Türkiye has a rich shopping culture where the story behind a product really matters.

In comparison, while I work closely with small designer shops in New York City as well, the atmosphere there is very different. NYC is heavily dominated by big corporations, and finding a retailer that fully aligns with your values and aesthetics feels almost like an Olympic sport. Türkiye, in that sense, offers a much more organic and personal connection between makers and buyers.

Do you have a secret restaurant tip that you would like to share with us?

Whenever I go sourcing waste materials around Ulus, I always make a stop at Beşiktaş Döner, located near Hacıbayram. You should definitely get there hungry, because resisting to their flavflavorst a place you’ll easily find on Tripadvisor as it’s a true local gem: simple and authentic.

You should definitely get there hungry, because resisting to their flavours is almost impossible!

Is there a local shop whose products are only available in your region?

Almost every corner of Türkiye is full of shops like this, places where local producers create and sell goods based on zero-waste principles and fair production ethics. There are literally thousands of them across the country.

Some of my personal favorites are Local Makers and Mutlu Mikrop in Istanbul, Anymate Store in Izmir, and in Ankara, the Impact Hub shop and Artsy located in Atakule.

Each of these places celebrates local craftsmanship and conscious creation in a way that feels both personal and future-oriented.

What are your 3 favourite apps that you use every day and couldn’t live without?

Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter (X). Each one feeds a different part of my creative and communication needs from inspiration to sharing my work.

Do you have any favourite newspapers or online magazines? And how do you keep up to date with politics or social and cultural issues?

I read Gazete Oksijen every week. It’s one of my go-to sources for thoughtful journalism. For political updates and analysis, I follow Daktilo 1984. When it comes to the arts and cultural scene, ArtDog Istanbul is where I stay connected and inspired.

Imagine you could be mayor for a year—what would you change?

The first issue I would address—even before traffic or infrastructure—would be the violence and cruelty faced by street animals in Türkiye. There is a serious and urgent problem with how stray animals are treated, often being killed in brutal ways.

Creating safe, humane shelters and better living options for them would be my top priority. Protecting the most vulnerable beings says a lot about the health of a society.

One last question: If you could choose another place to live—regardless of financial or time constrains—which one would you choose?

I’m deeply in love with New York City. Maybe it has something to do with the countless times I’ve traveled there since childhood,I honestly lost track. I adore the constant dynamism and the way so many radically different stories coexist side by side.

If I ever leave Ankara, I know I would mourn the life I built here. But in New York, I love the feeling of freedom from heavinessa kind of unburdened spirit thats hard to find elsewhere.