THE DESIGNER // GÖKHAN YAVAŞ

Born in İzmir in 1988, Gökhan Yavaş graduated from Dokuz Eylül University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Textile and Fashion Design. He further pursued his education at Istanbul Fashion Academy, completing programs in "Leather Apparel, Footwear and Accessory Design" and "Fashion Design and Management."

Yavaş began his career with internships at companies such as ÜNİTEKS, MUDO-FTS 64, and SÖKTAŞ, later working as a designer at Tornado Leather and Damat & Tween.

In 2016, he gained significant attention by winning second place at the Koza Young Fashion Designers Competition and showcasing his Spring-Summer 2016 menswear collection "Step Up" at the New Gen Runway Show. In 2017, he founded his namesake label, aiming to bring a fresh perspective to streetwear. He introduced his brand at "The Core Istanbul" event in September 2017 and held his first runway show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Istanbul in March 2018.

Blending traces of the past with contemporary elements, Yavaş drew inspiration from his childhood memories and the Aegean breeze for his Spring-Summer 2022 collection "İmbat." His Fall-Winter 2022-23 collection "Last Call" focused on the stories of those marginalized throughout history. In Spring-Summer 2023, he offered a creative escape from urban congestion with the "Le Déjeuner sur l’Herbe" collection, inspired by Eduard Manet’s iconic painting and its pastel tones.

Passionate about sustainability, Yavaş created pieces such as pants, ponchos, and sweatshirts using leftover fabrics for his "Last Call" collection. In his "RE" collection, he adopted a zero-waste philosophy, highlighting the importance of recycling within the fashion industry.

In 2021, Yavaş collaborated with logistics giant DHL Express Turkey on the "#FeelTheBlanks" campaign, aiming to raise awareness of the climate crisis. Through the limited-edition raincoats he designed for DHL Express, funds were raised to establish the "DHL Grove" with 3,500 saplings under the ÇEKÜL Foundation’s 7 Trees Forests Project. This remarkable collaboration demonstrated how Yavaş’s commitment to sustainability could seamlessly merge with fashion.

Gökhan Yavaş draws inspiration from life itself — nostalgic elements, the stars, and all that life has to offer become part of his creative journey. With patience and a strong belief in his vision, he continues to carve his own path in the fashion world, transforming the colors and shapes of the human spirit into works of art.