Imagined worlds fit for textiles
- Neslihan turned to textile printing as a second career in 2018
- She transfers her creations to linen using a traditional Anatolian hand-printing method
- Her motifs are inspired by women, nature and other cultures
In the serene courtyard of Arif Paşa Apartments, Neslihan Algünerhan can be found in her workshop and boutique, Nauna Linen. Built in 1902 to accommodate former Ottoman palace residents, the Arif Paşa Apartments are among the many iconic, yet hidden, corners of Istanbul which actively preserve the style and feel of the past. It is a whitewashed space filled with delicate linen objects in natural tones with creative nature-inspired prints. Having studied in the traditional Turkish crafts department at Marmara University, Neslihan quickly realised that hand-printing was her true calling. After a brief stint in the corporate world of home textiles, she resigned and took the plunge in 2018, opening her own workshop. “I produce home textile and products that convey my own inner world, by printing the patterns I draw on linen fabrics in colours that I like,” says Neslihan. She practices a traditional Anatolian hand-printing method that is more than 600 years old, taking care to use 100% natural materials.
Interview
- What do you specialise in?
- When preparing a collection, I like to bring to life the patterns I create completely in my own world without being influenced by what is fashionable. I create with colours that match each other. I am confident in this regard. I also find myself quite talented in pattern carving and printing.
- How do you express tradition and innovation in your work?
- The technique I use to transfer my patterns is completely traditional. My patterns, however, are contemporary. When I combine them with the colours and linen fabrics I want, the final product is very original and showcases peaceful elements.
- Is there something people do not realise about your work?
- Most people do not know how I imagine a collection in my head before creating it, how I bring those patterns to life and in which homes. No one can really know the conceptual side of my craft, but most can perceive the palpable outcome.
- Could your craft be considered in danger?
- As long as the value of craftsmanship is recognised and there are people like me who produce with their hands, I do not think it will be in danger. On the contrary, it may become more valuable with time.
Neslihan Algünerhan is a rising star: she began her career in 2018
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Neslihan Algünerhan
