Turkey
After passing through Paris and New York, the designer Gul Hurgel He has returned to her city, Istanbul. She is his main inspiration for your brand of dresses: feminine, light and linen; those that you would use on vacation to feel, at the same time, relaxed and elegant.
This interview is part of "The World Made Local" , a global project of Condé Nast Traveler in the seven international editions, which gives voice to 100 people in 100 countries to discover why their own territory should be your next destination.
Tell us something about your connection to your city and how what you do fits with its current narrative
I was born in Istanbul. I have lived here almost all my life. I don't think I'll live in another city again, I belong here. This city keeps me inspired, connected with my friends. I love to travel, but I feel like I always have to come back. There are things that I hate, like traffic, but there is more that I love!
**If a friend were to visit the city for 24 hours, where would you recommend that they have breakfast, lunch or dinner? **
Let him start with a typical turkish breakfast , with white cheese, olives, tomatoes and peppers. The local mezze comes from the eastern part of the country. I go all the time.
For lunch, when I'm in the showroom, I go to a restaurant next to the spice market called Pandely . They have typical Turkish mezze. It's not heavy and blends in with the placement they would love!
the fish restaurant Alekonun Yeri , on the Bosphorus, is perfect for dinner. You can order different mezze and salad of aubergine, octopus, white cheese and watermelon and drink raki, a Turkish ouzo (distilled from anise and grappa)! Then a fresh fish like sardines. You can also go to a kebab place called Develi , order the lamb and drink aryrm, a drink of yogurt and non-alcoholic water with which the kebab is usually eaten.
Turkish fashion designer Gül Hürgel.
**Besides the usual places, what should we go to visit in the city? **
make one long walk on the Bosphorus , to see the typical yali houses, from the Ottoman era, and now owned by wealthy people. On the European side are the restaurants and museums; in the Asian, it is where the people live. Go to the Golden Horn area: they have historic churches and synagogues, local restaurants and workshops. You should also go to a hammam.
**What to buy / where to buy? **
If you like vintage, I suggest the area of Cukurcuma , where there are thrift and antique shops all over the neighborhood. The antiques come from Turkey and Europe. There are also very nice cafes to sit at. I also recommend going to Nisantasi , an outdoor area with boutiques and cafes (not a mall!) - all the new and local Turkish brands are there.
A lively neighborhood to visit?
rumelihisari it is the old town and there are all the places: the spice market and the blue mosque. I know it's touristy, but you have to see it! On the Asian side there is a place called Kanlica . It's on the Bosphorus and it's very local. You don't see tourists, only locals. There is a very traditional famous cafe where they serve yoghurt with powdered sugar. It's also great for breakfast. It's right next to the port, you can't miss it, it's the only place and it's right next to the ferry stop. Finally, you definitely have to take a ferry ride on the Bosphorus and take the opportunity to eat a simit , which is a traditional Turkish bagel that they sell on the ferries.