Dilayla Kopuz
Hello, I am Dilayla Kopuz, Co-Founder, Creative Director & Designer at [IM]perfectionists.
I was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey. I moved to the United Kingdom at the age of 17 with a 100% scholarship from the University of East Anglia. Currently, I am in my senior year as a student of Marketing & Management. I don't have a fashion background but I have never let this keep me away from my dreams; I've taken short courses on fashion. I [have been] designing since I was seven years old plus I do oil paintings, so I trusted my ability to draw.
My main hobby would be travelling because my main inspiration as an artist is also different cultures and how these influence people's behaviour and clothing style. Due to COVID-19; however, this doesn't seem very realistic, so I’ve found an alternative solution [to travelling] - watching videos of different cities on YouTube! I also love to read, especially books on history. I can also proudly say that I've been attending Model United Nations conferences, and at Istanbul Technical University's Conference, where I was in the UN Women Council, I got awarded the Most Outstanding Delegate.
Tell us all about your company. What products do you offer?
We are a sustainable and ethical unisex athleisure wear brand. My vision for [IM]perfectionists consists of four main rocks which are:
Sustainability: At [IM]perfectionists, we make sure that our products and items have minimum harm on the environment. As a designer, I don’t use any synthetic fibres due to their contribution to microfibres, and by doing this, I am aiming to support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 14: Life under water. We only use natural fibres. I have even made sure that our yarns are cotton and all dyes that touch my designs have OEKO-TEX certification. Also, we do our prototyping mainly on CLO 3D to cut down the amount of items produced with mistakes (which often leads to waste).
Ethical Production: Our production takes place in a small atelier owned by a married couple in Istanbul, Turkey. We are proudly and ethically produced in Turkey. I have participated in fashion revolution events as well and learned further about ethical production. By doing this, our aim is to support SDG No. 1: No poverty.
Innovative Technology: Currently, we are getting our items on 3D and work our prototypes on CLO. Also, we have two Instagram filters which will increase later on.
Inclusiveness: I believe that fashion has created a certain image both for females and males. This creates pressure on people as well. I would like to challenge this idea and I want to make sure that when people get up in the morning and look in the mirror, they want to look like themselves, not something that has been created for them. The name of the brand, [IM]perfectionists, is also a reflection of this idea. It is a word that doesn’t actually exist - it’s something I’ve created.
I believe that fashion is currently going through tremendous changes, and that we as designers and creatives have to find the most innovative and engaging ideas to make sure we produce the most sustainable options and remember that we are part of nature. [IM]perfectionists will be a great representative of sustainable living, conscious fashion, and art. My designs are timeless, seasonless, and trendless.
Company Name: [IM]perfectionists
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Operating since: 2020; Fully launching in January 2021
Website: imperfectionists.co.uk
Instagram: @imperfectionists_official
Tell us a bit about your co-founders.
Olina Asbeak Schyette is my lovely co-founder and our CEO. She is a very hardworking and supportive business partner. She knows how to work with artists and that makes it very easy for me to keep my authentic work. As a sustainable brand, we always make sure we make the right decisions about our environment. Sustainable decisions do cost more (which is not very much liked by CEOs; however, unlike other CEOs, Olina is okay with paying extra to make sure we are actually sustainable.
How did you get the idea or concept for your company? What was your mission at the outset?
There was a different inspiration I had at the beginning but as the journey led me, I got inspired by the idea of strength, unity, and daring (which are also the themes of my upcoming shoot). I believe that we need to be more inclusive in the fashion industry. Putting 1-2 models with different ethnicities will not make any difference; we have to create the right image and the right message by respecting different nationalities and backgrounds. This can only happen when we realize that uniting us all will bring strength to all of us and this requires encouragement, daring; therefore, my inspiration is to help our environment and make a difference and stand against racism.
Growing up, did you always intend to start your own company/organization?
I did! I always loved to draw and create things. When I was in primary school, at the age of 8, I started to draw penguin toys which me and a friend of mine were supposed to [turn into] a toy business. As an animal lover and wildlife supporter, I also created a charity for protecting giraffes when I was 10. My toy car which only I could fit in was my charity's car :).
How have your past personal & professional experiences helped you to run your company?
I have been a proud member of Rotary, a "global movement of young leaders who are developing solutions to problems". I have always liked to help people in need, which is why I joined Rotary in high school and created lots of projects where we would send books to kids in villages, clothes, and shoes to people in need. I have organized and led projects but my biggest project was in high school where we collected clothes and shoes for 550 kids in a small village. After that we flew to Samsun (a smaller city in Turkey) with some teachers, met with the kids ourselves, and gave them their gifts.
What's your definition of success?
Unlike a majority of people, success is not fame, is not money, for me. It is being healthy, loved, and loving. It is being inspirational and creating a positive impact in people's lives. Overall, I can conclude it as being healthy, alive, and making the most of it by empowering women.
Have the women around you helped you to rise? How?
Yes, indeed they have. My mother, my queen, who launched her own business at the age of 19. She has a massive knowledge in business and she is always there when I am in doubt. I am also a believer that we get influenced by our surroundings so our network is essential for us. Therefore, I only surround myself with ambitious women. My best, Beyza Isbakan, who is only 23, runs a car equipment company in the position of CEO (in Turkey) which is mainly known as a man's field. She is fierce and she hustles every day to change that. I also have two very close friends of mine - we studied together; one of them, Sabina Barzamova, is a stylist and has her own sustainable kids wear brand in Kazakhstan. The other, Inkar Mukhan, is an influencer and a YouTuber. All these three girls have been by my side since day one. Having each other's back is crucial and we always say ‘it’s all of us against the world’.
What are some of your future plans? Are you working on anything else right now?
Currently, fully launching [IM]perfectionists is the main goal. After that, who knows maybe I'll be into the beauty industry as well with some vegan products.
What advice would you give to a woman starting out in your industry or starting her own company/organization?
Your mind puts the limits for you, so If you want to start something and you are afraid of getting negative answers, do not be afraid of the answer "no". Be afraid of asking yourself "what would happen if I did it?"
Describe yourself in ONE word. BOLD
Complete this sentence: "To be a girl or woman today is..."
A privilege that not everyone can actually see. There are lots of issues around women’s rights still in this 21st century, but we, as women, have more power to change and support each other.