Duygu Boz is the Founding Partner and Creative Director of KNITSS, an international label known for its sophisticated style, understated luxury and comfort. Creatively designed and beautifully handcrafted, each piece can be mixed and matched to bring together a complete wardrobe. Spending much of her working life in Istanbul and Paris, Duygu takes time out to speak with Sue Smart about her latest collection.
What inspired you to get into fashion design?
It is inspired by art, life and interactions. With this inspiration, the vision behind KNITSS is to present to the people a complete, identified wardrobe from head to toe.
What was your major inspiration for going into the fashion business with your husband?
Our greatest inspiration was the passion to produce clothes that will express the true identity and self-confidence of a woman using the highest quality materials, so she will always look great and the clothes can be worn comfortably at any time of the day or night.
How would you describe your latest KNITSS collection? What makes this so special and unique?
With the POWERFUL ALLURE collection (Fall-Winter 20-21 Collection) KNITSS is combining new and heritage style in a strong way. The inspiration comes from the rise of the digital world. We wanted to fit together heritage (which comes from the past) and adapt it with the newness of the digital form. We played with heritage patterns and combined them with each other. This season is really cool in my eyes.
What are some of your favourite pieces from this collection? Why?
My everyday piece from this collection could be the Coney Jacket. It’s cool by itself. It could be easily combined with jeans, skirts and dresses. It also has its own pants called Coney pants. It can be a suit using the pants to create a complete look. It is really elegant and lovely in my eyes. Also, the patterned colourful cardigans are my favourites in this collection. They look like a patchwork but they are completely created from knits. I love them and I’m so excited to wear them – I’m just waiting for winter.
Which types of women do your KNITSS designs appeal to?
The KNITSS designs appeal to women with a tasteful and original style. Women who know what suits them and who have a strong sense of style.
As a designer and business woman, what values do you want to bring into your work in terms of cultural and global issues?
Before you are a designer, you are a human being. Like every other human being on the planet, you are part of a social contract. We share the planet. We are all obligated to do our best to leave this planet in a better shape than when we found it. A designer is responsible for the work they put into the world. Therefore, I want to take my brand in a sustainable direction for our future. This is my motivation.
Were you born and raised in Turkey? If so, how has this influenced your personal design philosophy?
I was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is a bit of a complicated city but the city is so inspiring and hosts many cultures, nationalities and heritages. All these different flavours are so inspiring for doing the design work.
What excites you most about the process of design, from sketch to catwalk?
The most exciting part of the design process is finding the source of inspiration and dreaming about the collection’s story. The rest comes by itself; spontaneously.
Which designers inspire you?
I always get inspiration from people who take risks and affect crowds in a positive way. If I need to say names, then: Coco Chanel, Jane Austen, Kleopatra, and Benazir Butto. These women are so inspiring and strong in terms of their life stories.
Who is wearing your clothes and who would you most like to dress in future?
In Turkey, many celebrities, models and actresses are wearing KNITSS; and we also want to dress well-known people in the international arena.
What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your fashion career?
I think I would be an architect.
What is the best advice you’ve been given?
Believe. Never give up!
What’s your favourite thing to do to relax/unwind?
Meditation, good massage, kids.
What’s coming up next for you?
There are always new projects. We are in touch with good collaborators for future projects. Finger crossed!
Are you excited by the future? If so, why?
Sustainability is very important to us. We will carry this to our future collections, and we will continue our production with recycled and environmentally-friendly fibres.
BY: Sue Smart
