Turkish fashion opens up for transgender community

• Sudesu Demirel, considered as the country’s first professional transgender model, walked down the runway wearing a bridal gown at a fashion show held at Cevahir Hotel’s show room in Istanbul.
• Demirel and her colleagues are working to be part of the country’s prestigious organizations such as the Turkish Fashion Designers Association to take their career to the next level.
• With the industry estimated to be worth 17 billions of euros, making up 20 percent of the country’s total annual export earnings, Turkey is situated to take advantage of its exports of ready-made clothing.

Members of the transgender community have been participating in Turkey’s flourishing fashion industry according to the transgender news stories by Al Arabiya website posted on April 20.

With the industry estimated to be worth 17 billions of euros, making up 20 percent of the country’s total annual export earnings, Turkey is situated to take advantage of its exports of ready-made clothing

Global fashion force

The country has established itself as a global force in fashion over the years. With a population of about 80 million, it has become a target market for renowned fashion designers and luxury brands from the West.

They also flock to Turkey in search for Oriental inspiration for their next collection as well as manufacturing high quality garments economically.

And fashion is also where members of the transgender community had found their passion and career. With the boom in the market, they had found a place in the catwalk amidst a tough competition.

Tolerance

It was a dream for Sudesu Demirel, a transgender woman, to join a fashion show.

“Before I was a model, I used to work as a DJ or a nightclub manager, but I united with my colleagues,” she explained. “We used to participate as fashion amateurs before we decided to organize our entire professional shows.”

Having started her modelling career just three years ago, her work had paid off just the last couple of months and claimed that she heard positive feedback and tolerance from people when they find out about her gender.

Last February 18, Demirel, considered as the country’s first professional transgender model, walked down the runway wearing a bridal gown at a fashion show held at Cevahir Hotel’s show room in Istanbul.

Below is video of Demirel walking in one of the fashion shows.

She also said that she hoped that her work as a designer and as a model for women’s fashion, evening wear and casual wear would gain recognition abroad.

“In the coming period, we aim to export our own brands, so that everyone is aware that we have entered the field of fashion design, and we are no longer restricted to our cricles in Turkey,” she stated.

Equality in fashion circle

Demirel and her colleagues are also working to be part of the country’s prestigious organizations such as the Turkish Fashion Designers Association to take their career to the next level and gain access to opportunities such as participating in major shows such as the Istanbul Fashion Week.

The Turkish Fashion Designers Association has around 200 members and is the country’s equivalent to the United State’s Council of Fashion Designers.

“The number of international stores outside Turkey, which will showcase Turkish designs, will reach 4,000 by the end of 2018. Hence, we believe that this provides us, as transsexuals, with an opportunity to get jobs and compensation for shortcomings in other fields,” she remarked.

She also said that recent times demonstrated that Turkey can conduct lucrative trade and compete with well-known brands in Milan, Paris, London, and New York.

Via