The Designer Who Transforms Urla's Memory into Jewelry: Evren Şengüler

INTERVIEW | Abdulvahap Filiz

1. As a designer who has achieved first place in Turkey, what emotions and observations shaped the birth of the “Urla Collection”?

Evren Şengüler:
For me, design is not merely an aesthetic production; it is a way of making a geography’s spirit, memory, and story visible. After moving to Urla, I deeply felt the presence of a living history here. The impressions, emotions, and inspirations that accumulated in my mind over the years finally found their way to my design desk. Reinterpreting Urla’s cultural heritage in the form of jewelry was a natural and almost inevitable process for me.

2. How did your path cross with Tuncay Erdem, and on what common ground did this collaboration develop?

Evren Şengüler:
Tuncay Erdem is a strong brand with deep knowledge of the region’s cultural memory and years of experience. When I first shared the idea of the collection with him, he responded with the same excitement.

This collaboration was not merely a business partnership; it became a shared production born from respect for the same land and a desire to preserve its heritage. That is why the process was so fluid, harmonious, and inspiring.

3. What were the main sources of inspiration during the creation of the collection?

Evren Şengüler:
I spent months in museums, studied archaeological research, and traced ancient symbols. Conversations with Urla’s oldest residents revealed many details that had never been recorded.

This research process gave the collection both a strong historical foundation and a unique soul.

When you look at the pieces, you can feel both the past and the present at the same time — and that’s exactly why.

4. The fact that your designs were accepted without any revisions is rare in the industry. How did this make you feel?

Evren Şengüler:
This is truly valuable to me. Trust in a designer’s line is directly related to respect for the essence of that work. The fact that Tuncay Erdem and his team embraced my designs in their original form doubled the collection’s energy and creative strength.

It felt like a strong, unspoken agreement: “We are telling Urla’s story correctly.”

5. Do you believe the Urla Collection will also make an impact internationally?

Evren Şengüler:
Absolutely. The strong interest the collection attracted from the very beginning has shown that our culture has a universal language.

Urla’s story is not merely local; it has a depth that can resonate globally when communicated properly.

That is why I strongly believe the collection will find its place on international stages.

Conclusion:

Evren Şengüler’s “Urla Collection” is not just a jewelry series; it is a unique artistic work carrying the memory, aesthetics, and spirit of a geography.

Representing prestige in design, depth in culture, and originality in art, this collection seems ready to carry Urla’s voice into the future.