The story of Dilara Fındıkoğlu, who has caught the world’s attention with her designs in recent years, begins with her designs not being showcased at her school’s press show despite graduating with honors. Her first media attention was drawn by her rebellion against her London school’s graduation show. This rebellion took place when Fındıkoğlu and her designer friends organized their own show on the same day after being denied the opportunity to showcase their designs.
Dilara Fındıkoğlu believes in reincarnation. She thinks that her soul deliberately chose this body to connect with fashion. Related to her interest in reincarnation, Fındıkoğlu refers to her designs as “witchcraft.” She has mentioned spending most of her life surrounded by objects, fabrics, and clothing, collecting these materials along with ideas to pass the time. She perceives her work as a synthesized combination of stories, history, politics, mythology, and religion.
Furthermore, she speaks of a desire to travel through time from the past to the present. She even fulfilled this desire in a comic book with a friend, where they went back to meet Cleopatra, Atatürk, and Queen Elizabeth, and then returned to the present to kill Trump. Fındıkoğlu also expresses a desire to perform magic to see different dimensions and portals. Additionally, she cleanses her studio of bad energies with sage every week.
Among Dilara Fındıkoğlu’s preferred clothing are red tones, fur details, latex materials, and Victorian-style designs. She also owns a doll collection that reflects her character, style, and periods. She appreciates flaws in clothes and objects, believing that these imperfections and signs of wear hold a unique aesthetic value. Fındıkoğlu’s designs are influenced by punk, metal, and gothic subcultures, which she interprets within the context of feminism, religion, and politics.
Sensitive to the issue of the climate crisis, Dilara Fındıkoğlu has changed her lifestyle and production methods in her studio and reflected these thoughts in her designs. She sources materials from local producers in various regions of Turkey who produce organic materials and use recyclable materials.
Recently, Dilara Fındıkoğlu, whose name was written on Doja Cat’s forehead, has designed outfits for many celebrities, including Rihanna, Bella Hadid, Lady Gaga, Hailey Bieber, Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner, Cardi B, and Doja Cat, giving social messages with her creative style and reflecting her inner world.
Resources:
1- (2019, Eylül 13). London Fashion Week: 3 Young Designers Preview Their Spring 2020 Collections. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qBzm5vxAwQ
2- Badur, Ö. (2024, Şubat 5). Ünlülerin Tercihi Dilara Fındıkoğlu Hakkında Bilinmeyenler. Vogue. https://vogue.com.tr/moda/unlulerin-tercihi-dilara-findikoglu-hakkinda-bilinmeyenler
3- Kanungo, P. (2024, Şubat 5) What does Dilara Findikoglu mean? Doja Cat’s forehead tattoo at Grammys 2024 sparks hilarious reactions online. SKPOP. https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/news-what-dilara-findikoglu-mean-doja-cat-s-forehead-tattoo-grammys-2024-sparks-hilarious-reactions-online
4- (18, Mayıs 2018). My Place: Dilara Findikoglu. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpQcFEZeMlI
5- Dilara Fındıkoğlu – 2020 İlkbahar/Yaz [Dilara Fındıkoğlu 2020 İlkbahar/Yaz defilesi, Londra Moda Haftası kapsamında gerçekleşti]. (2019, 14 Eylül). Vogue. https://vogue.com.tr/defile/dilara-findikoglu-2020-ilkbaharyaz-6979
6- Kallon, C. (2024, 5 Şubat). Doja Cat Wore Dilara Fındıkoğlu To The 2024 Grammy Awards
7- RED CARPET FASHION AWARD. https://www.redcarpet-fashionawards.com/2024/02/05/doja-cat-wore-dilara-findikoglu-to-the-2024-grammy-awards/
8- Dilara Fındıkoğlu – 2023 İlkbahar/Yaz (2022, 17 Eylül). Vogue. https://vogue.com.tr/defile/dilara-findikoglu-2023-ilkbaharyaz
9- Kallon, C. (2023, 13 Eylül). Cardi B Wore Dilara Fındıkoğlu To The 2023 MTV VMAs. RED CARPET FASHION AWARDS. https://www.redcarpet-fashionawards.com/2023/09/13/cardi-b-wore-dilara-findikoglu-to-the-2023-mtv-vmas/