Ayça Pelvanlar & Seda Hancıoğlu

There are people around us who definitely deserve recognition whether they are already famous, up and coming, or unknown. We grow with their success, show off with their achievements, and ask around for feedback. So, have you heard about Ayça & Seda?

How did you transfer from working with Zeynep Tosun to building your own business?
First of all, we are very proud to have been a part of a brand like that. In the last three years, we’ve participated in many projects. We had the opportunity to experience all phases of this job and we are lucky to have this experience with visionary people who are good at what they do.

In the beginning, we weren’t really clear on our direction, there were many projects we wanted to accomplish. However with time, our couture dresses and first bridal gown (of Elif Domaniç) helped us gain recognition.

Who is the first to ask for a break?
Since our job isn’t typically 9 till 5, we don’t really have the chance to take a break. If one of us is tired, we try to accommodate and we don’t tire the day down. Since we’re mostly together after work, if there’s something that needs to get done, we end up working on it. This is the one thing we get reactions from our friends about; rather than us, they are the ones who ask us to take a break.

What’s on repeat at the atelier?
Timujin – Epilogue and Midas104-Downtown Shanghai

When was the last time you had a paroxysm of laughter? What was it about?
Two goats live an urban life opposite our fason atelier where we work on international productions; during work hours they come around, spend time and bang into passers-by and after work they go back into their barn.

Who inspires you in design?
It’s impossible to give one name but lots of visuals gets our juices flowing. It may sound cliché, but a wall pattern that someone just turns away from might remind us of the upper part, neck and cup of a dress. Designing is a feeling that comes from within; you hold on to anything that feeds you, we can say creating out of nothing is our inspiration.

Who would you like to dress?
Tilda Swinton.

What is an ideal Sunday night like for you?
Summertime or wintertime? [They ask, laughing.] The common factor of both seasons is that on Sundays, we totally clear our heads and have a great day as if the following day is not Monday.

An Instagram account you secretly stalk, but refuse to follow?
If we tell you the accounts we look at secretly, they would not be secrets anymore!