Jewelry

Turkish Designer, Alara Görpe On Reincarnating Memories Through Jewelry - Forbes

Turkish designer Alara Görpe has jewelry making in her blood. She comes from a long line of jewelry makers and creatives, being brought up in her Istanbul home surrounded by rare and bedazzling jewels. Jealous!

It only seemed natural then, when the time was right (and via exploring other career curiosities) that she'd set up her own brand. And that comes in the form of monmu, inspired by 'mon mouvement' a.k.a. 'my movement' in French which she established only two years ago. For this designer, she wants her pieces (and rather cool conceptual pieces may we add), to accompany women in their journey of self-exploration throughout life.

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FC: What was your first fashionable memory?

Alara Görpe: Unfortunately, my first meeting with fashion wasn’t a fairytale of a little girl. When I was 5 years old, my pre-school has organized a fashion show for children. I was really so excited and got ready for days. And show time…my partner has laid flat and started to cry called “I want my mom!” on the runway. I believed I will make better the relations with fashion in the future. And I’m here.

FC: Tell us about your background – how, when, why you got into the jewelry industry?

AG: I come from a family carrying handcraft culture and spirit with its long history of jewelry making. So I spent my time at ateliers gaining crafting skills on all occasions. Although I have studied economics, I pursued my curiosity for fashion and art after my graduation. Combining my family heritage with my modern design skills and adding my original point of view, I started my own journey of launching monmu.

FC: What was your first piece of jewelry?

AG: Over a decade ago, I created my very first necklace in my mother’s atelier. However she has not permitted to play with her equipment, so I have had to make it secretly. I still remember this necklace, it was a multitude short necklace with African style black and white big beads. Actually, this necklace was not just an accessory, but was and is a precious family heirloom that will be passed down through the generations.

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FC: Sum up your brand aesthetic in 3 words?

AG: Strong, free and natural.

FC: Which is your favorite piece, and how do you wear it?

AG: Of course, I have different deep love for each piece but one of them is so special for me; limpet earrings from the sand collection. I have created these earrings in my el nido journey with collecting the current limpets from the beach on my own. So it’s like an incarnational version of a lovely and beautiful memory. Now, I am wearing them with my favorite piece: the oversize white shirt.

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FC: What was on your mood board for the current collection?

AG: Nature, its colors, its fragrance, its texture are unendingly inspirational for me. Each collection contains apart from nature. It became a sign of monmu. So I have created a sand collection by combining the smooth structure of sands with modern lines.

FC: What do you have coming up for the rest of the year?

AG: So elegant, pure and extraordinary collection is coming soon, the simplicity collection. You will mainly observe the harmony of unfamiliar natural stones and geometric details. Also, monmu is starting to include a sunglasses chain collection! It’s a great and cheerful challenge for me. I fall in love with them, and so excited to see the reaction.

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See more on monmu.com.