Having successful exhibits in several organizations in fashion weeks held in many parts of the world such as New York and Paris famous fashion designer Atıl Kutoğlu now is mentioned by its new project in a different field. The signature of Atıl Kutoğlu will now be signed on Hotel Altstadt Wien, originally designed by famous Italian Architect Matteo Thun two decades ago and selected as the best hotel in Austria by Trip Advisor in 2015, will be rejuvenated by Kutoglu. Atıl Kutoğlu mentioned about his works that go beyond the realm of fashion including the exhibition spaces, boutique decoration of stores and his works for car and building designs. He told about his life from his lycee years to the shows in Paris and New York and gave advices for young designers.

Your works have been exhibited in fashion weeks held in New York and Paris. Would you tell us about your success story with your own words?

While in the Istanbul German Lycee, following my apprenticeship in Vakko and Beymen, I wanted to study business in Vienna. Even during my education I have had actual cultural shows in German Cultural Center Teutonia. While in Austria, in an Autumn day, I met with municipal of Vienna on tram, who was there for the press show of the opening a new line. I run after them and I found an opportunity to introduce myself to Helmut Zilk, the famous and prestigious municipal of Vienna. His guards helped me for the talk. This was a special memory for me. That day was e milestone in my career. A week later I got an invitation from his office and went to meet him, with all may drafts and files under my arm. Vienna Municipality has been the sponsor of my first collection and show I held in Austria, the Modeexposition Istanbul held under the auspices of the Dean of Vienna Economy University where I was studying. Next year, I made my second show, A Turkish Flair, held in historical building of Turkish consulate in Vienna under the auspices of our Consul Erdem Erner and his wife Gokçen. Following the press reviews I started to design for celebrities in Austria. Popular music star and also the wife of Vienna Mayor Helmut Zilk Dagmar Koller, wife of foreign minister Edith Mock and many other celebrities began to prefer my designs and productions. I was elected as the youngest best fashion designer in the Munich fashion week. As one of the six successful young stylists chosen by Austria Chamber of Trade, we were sent to Dusseldorf, Milano and Paris to make shows. My works have all been preferred the most.

How did your story begin in the US?

Once I pick my case and my latest collection then I went to the USA. The collection that I exhibited in a suit of a famous hotel in New York was immediately ordered by one of the prestigious chain of stores and was praised by fearful fashion editor of New York Times, Bernadine Morris at the same time. Besides he published a half page news in New York Times. During the following ten years I have been living mostly in New York, I shuffled between the US and the Europe. I then was included in Turquality program of Turkish Ministry of Trade, and in their official agenda as the only Turkish fashioner in New York Fashion week. I held exhibitions every year for 9 years.

Then were you back to Turkey?

After having been chosen for several times as the best fashioner of the country in Austria, I was awarded by the highest medal of merit of Austria presented by the Austrian President three years ago. I organized a show in Paris Fashion Week last year. The exhibit that were held in glorious Turkish embassy was participated by major fashion authorities and Belgian pop star Viktor Lazlo, who has been prefering my works for years.

We know that you reflect your lines on dresses, bags, and footwear. What kind of a soul will Atıl Kutoğlu add to hotel and other contract projects?

That’s true. Collections for women and men that we produce biannually every year are our priority. Besides other collections for bags, shoes, shawls and scarfs, some encouraging projects out of fashion field but in design world may appear. I find furniture and decoration fields close to fashion and I like them as well. A couple of years ago I have had designed a sofa and coach for Dogtas, a famous furniture brand. Now we got a good offer from Austria, to design new sections and suits of a famous hotel in Austria. I always consider the spaces that my works will be showed, the decorations of boutiques that are sold; even I had some drafts for cars and buildings.

I think that the Altstadt project is one of them. Would you inform us about the details of this project?

Hotel Altstadt Wien, originally designed by famous Italian Architect Matteo Thun two decade ago and selected as the best hotel in Austria by Trip Advisor in 2015. Owner of the hotel had contacted me and demanded to design new sections of the hotel. I visited to the hotel, and I liked it much. They even mentioned about their dreams of having my lines, that carries several elements from ethnic Turkish culture. I drafted several suits in this regard. 6 suits and a lounge that connects them was designed by myself. Meanwhile, UTIB, Uludag Textile Exporters Association, entered in the scene and offered to supply home textiles of famous producers in Bursa. Companies such as Rekor, Turkun Holding, Vanelli, Guleser, Elvin and Burkay Textile have produces beautiful fabrics for my designs. Actually, the cooperation was made possible by the invitation of Ibrahim Burkay, chairman of UTIB and BTSO. We coordinated all activities by visiting companies with Pinar Tasdelen Engin, deputy chairman of the association.

What were the most inspiring elements of your design?

While working on a design, I have been inspired, informed and feed from several sources. But, Turkish culture and art, Ottomans, Seljuks and civilizations of Anatolia have always been on the top of the list that affects me the most. I got several ideas and inspirations when I visited a museum or a historical city. But, modern art also affects me, like any film or opera I was an audience. All of the mélange of these help me to develop style, collection and designs. But, at the last resort, I aim to produce contemporary, original but practical and comfortable collections. I have a style and signature reflects both modern and ethnic. Fashion authorities are commenting on my work in these words. I consider that out of life and overemphasized designs are not so valid now.

What can be said about the design quality in Turkey from your point of view? How is our position when compared with other countries?

There are promising developments in the field of design in Turkey. Many branches of design are taught in several universities and in academies such as Istanbul Fashion Academy. However, still we have a few number of names, who are famous in international platforms. We have to be in better and more effective position in international arena by reflecting the cultural and historical richness of Turkey. The popularity of these topics, the value of design, supports and incentives offered for the developments in the field are good points.

What are your advices for candidates of younger designers?

I advice them to be self-confident, try to develop themselves and to think globally. They should have specific targets not only on local but also for international arenas. They have to be original, be themselves, be up-to-date and more realistic.

What else do you want to add?

I want to say that fashion and textile industries are important fields that has enormous potentials in the promotion of Turkey and its values. With their successful fashion designs, fashion people, designers, brands are promoting their products and works to masses in foreign countries. When I made an interview to an Austrian or other foreign TV channel, I also made contributions to the promotional efforts of Turkey in the world, with all my words, collections, shows, person, and with my ideas.