Rifat Ozbek
Encyclopedia
Rifat Ozbek is a Turkish
-born fashion designer, known for his exotic, ethnically-inspired outfits. He has been named British Designer of the Year in 1988 and 1992.
, Turkey
and grew up in in a yali
on the Bosphorus. He moved to London
in the 1970s and lived in his parents flat in Belgravia
whilst he was studying architecture
and then fashion
at St Martin's School of Art. After graduating in 1976, Ozbek went to Italy
where he designed clothes for Monsoon
. In 1984 he established his own company and then began to show his yearly collections in Milan
and New York
, and more recently, in Paris
. By 1995, Ozbek had launched his own perfume called "Ozbek", and later a second perfumed called "Ozbek 1001". In 2010, Ozbek launched a new business called "Yastik" which means "cushion
" in Turkish. Ozbek is currently decorating Robin Birley's new nightclub, Rupert's, which is scheduled to open in 2012. He lives between London, Istanbul and Bodrum, where he resides with his partner Erdel Karaman and his niece Sara-Ella Ozbek, an aspiring writer who has also followed in her uncle's footsteps having worked at Vogue and currently at Next Model Management.
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
-born fashion designer, known for his exotic, ethnically-inspired outfits. He has been named British Designer of the Year in 1988 and 1992.
Biography
Ozbek was born in IstanbulIstanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and grew up in in a yali
Yali (residence)
A yalı , literally "seashore, beach") is a house or mansion constructed at immediate waterside in Istanbul and usually built with an architectural concept that takes into account the characteristics of the coastal location...
on the Bosphorus. He moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the 1970s and lived in his parents flat in Belgravia
Belgravia
Belgravia is a district of central London in the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Noted for its immensely expensive residential properties, it is one of the wealthiest districts in the world...
whilst he was studying architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
and then fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
at St Martin's School of Art. After graduating in 1976, Ozbek went to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
where he designed clothes for Monsoon
Monsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
. In 1984 he established his own company and then began to show his yearly collections in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and more recently, in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. By 1995, Ozbek had launched his own perfume called "Ozbek", and later a second perfumed called "Ozbek 1001". In 2010, Ozbek launched a new business called "Yastik" which means "cushion
Cushion
A cushion is a soft bag of some ornamental material, stuffed with wool, hair, feathers, polyester staple fiber, non-woven material, or even paper torn into fragments. It may be used for sitting or kneeling upon, or to soften the hardness or angularity of a chair or couch...
" in Turkish. Ozbek is currently decorating Robin Birley's new nightclub, Rupert's, which is scheduled to open in 2012. He lives between London, Istanbul and Bodrum, where he resides with his partner Erdel Karaman and his niece Sara-Ella Ozbek, an aspiring writer who has also followed in her uncle's footsteps having worked at Vogue and currently at Next Model Management.
Awards
- 1986: Woman MagazineWoman (UK magazine)Woman is a mainstream weekly title for 30- and 40-something women. Edited by Karen Livermore, it encompasses a mix of celebrity gossip and TV news, real-life stories, and body-confident fashion and beauty tips...
Designer Award - 1988: British Designer of the Year
- 1989: British Glamour Award
- 1992: British Designer of the Year