Welcome to Ozen Studios

Get to know them: Aykut Ozen, Creative Director/ Designer, of Ozen Studios and Julianna Vezzetti, Business/Communications Director, graciously welcomed me into their workshop last week. Located in the Pike/Pine corridor on Capitol Hill, their workshop is a freight elevator shaft that has been retrofitted into usable space. This unique space is charming, alluring and seems to induce creative energy. Aykut is a self taught leather craftsman who creates well fitted and finely detailed jackets and bags. He not only works in leather, I also spied some remarkable military and paisley jackets, made from vintage fabrics. 

You may have seen: This past October, Akyut was chosen to display one of his leather jackets at EMP's "Worn to be Wild: The Black Leather Jacket," an exhibition displaying vintage and contemporary takes on the leather jacket. Aykut's jacket is displayed alongside vintage jackets from Musicians such as Elvis Presley and haute couture designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Jeremy Scott and Gianni Versace.

You Capitol Hill locals may have also seen Aykut's leather clothing at the holiday pop-up shop Blak Designmart last month in Caffe Vita's Bean Room.

UPCOMING:Ozen is planning on producing bell bottom black denim jeans inspired by 70's rock n roll wear.

What inspired you to start Ozen? 

A: Started with the idea of making one of a kind leather jackets for myself and evolved into a full line of custom leather goods. Music is my main inspiration for almost everything I create. Each of my leather work is constructed in a very similar pattern as writing a song. I do it because it makes me feel good and proud.

J: Aykut Ozen is an inspiring individual. When I first met him I knew I wanted to work for him and with him. No one is as well crafted and driven to create forever evolving genuine pieces of art and design.

What are you looking forward to?

A: Add new products to the line including denim and custom shoes. I'm also working on both my solo and band album projects. 

J: Future collaborations and winters first snow.

Do you have any new years resolutions?

A: To make a living from my art.

J: Work hard, be honest, and create a new viewHue.

Who's someone you admire?

A: My sweet girlfriend, best friend Julianna Vezzetti.

J: The crusaders, pushing the limit of art and design and never shying away from what others would think or judge.

What's your sign?

A: Gemini.

J: Aquarius.

What's your vice?

A: Pizza.

J: Too many coats and whiskey.

What's currently on your personal soundtrack?

A: Damon (David Del Conte), Mogollar, Baris Manco, Fikret Kizilok, Frumpy, Flower Travelling Band, Davey Graham, Robbie Basho.

J: Black Sabbath, Uriah Heep, T Rex,  Cerrone, Townes Van Zandt.

If you could be anywhere in the world, where would you be?

A: Kapadokya.

J: I'd really love to visit Turkey and lay on the black sand beaches and then hop a train to Berlin.

What's your motto?

A: Anything you decide to wear is a compliment to your soul. Style without soul is nothing.

J:  Love to live and live to love.

O Z E N from Dressed for Tea on Vimeo.

O Z E N II from Dressed for Tea on Vimeo.

Inside the Home of Ashley Helvey

Textile Artist & Stylist, Ashley Helvey, invited me inside her beautiful home for a cup of tea.  I photographed her fantastic shoe collection, discussed what brought her to the Pacific Northwest, and what she never leaves the house without. 

What brought you to Seattle?

I moved here from San Francisco because my boyfriend was finishing his masters degree in computational linguistics at UW and I was excited to try living somewhere totally new.

You're a textile artist. What inspires your art? Where can we find it?

I'm inspired by processes- physically and spiritually. Felting and weaving are almost meditative in  that way. I am working on an installation at Kaleidoscope Vision at the end of this month which includes some plant hangers, ceramics, and textiles that I'm really excited about.

Besides being a textile artist you also have an incredible style blog, Hunter Gatherer(er) and have styled shoots for Kinfolk Magazine. What was it like styling a dinner party in Seattle's Smith Tower?

To be honest, looking back I feel like it was a bit contrived. There is something about "styling" shoots that it takes away the authenticity of a place, which I think is what makes spaces actually interesting. I guess I prefer to see spaces in their unaltered states. Over-styling can almost seem dishonest in a way.

What have been some of your favorite styling projects? Why? 

Probably working with Totokaelo. It's so rare to be able to work with any kind of decent merchandise in Seattle!

What's your current occupation?

I currently am an assistant stylist for Nordstrom Creative Marketing. It's always a challenge to find a balance between what you love to do and what pays your bills. I find styling to be a great outlet to meet amazing people, work with fashion, and collaborate on creative projects. Also, a  few years ago I realized that making money from from my artwork totally changed the way I worked in a way that wasn't quite as pure or productive. Realizing that took a lot of pressure off and made my work more enjoyable.

What are five things you never leave the house without?

Besides my keys, wallet, and phone: Chanel lipstick and pressed powder, my Mason Pearson hairbrush, Kiehl's Original Musk oil, and my little Canon S95.

Who are some of your favorite designers?

Maison Margiela, Jil Sander, ACNE, Celine, and Robert Clergerie for shoes.

What's on your personal soundtrack?

Always Glasser and Molly Nillson, but lately all Lil Jon's old hits...

What's your vice?

Eating out. As much as I love cooking, I love going to restaurants! Some of my favorites here in Seattle are Walrus and the Carpenter, Le Pichet, Sitka and Spruce, The Corson Building, La Bete, Spinasse, and Boat Street and Cafe Presse for brunch.

Who's someone you admire? Why?

My friend Theresa, because she's a strong, creative, entrepreneurial woman who has inspired me to dream big.

What're you looking forward to?

Visiting friends and family in San Francisco- I'm teaching a textile workshop at California College of the Arts at the end of the month and am looking forward to eating delicious food and getting my drivers license renewed.

If you could be anywhere, where would you be?

Living in a pied-a-terre in Paris with some property in the German countryside.

Welcome to Arabica Lounge

Arabica Lounge is a fantastic coffee shop located on Capitol Hill. I have been frequenting it a lot lately and there are always stylish folk to photograph not to mention the food and art inside is amazing.  The owner, Jojo Corväiá graciously welcomed me into his doors and told me a bit about the cafe, secret society, art, and music. 

Jojo Corväiá, Owner of Arabica Lounge. 

Where are you originally from?

Venezuela where I was born into a French/Italian family.

What languages do you speak?

English, French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Do you have a daily mantra?

I work very hard and this cafe keeps me happy. I get gratification from the people I meet everyday. I make friends and people love what I have done. 

How did you learn to cook and what inspires your cooking?

I grew up very lucky. My Dad's family was Italian, Lebanese, and French. My Aunt, Violet, was so serious in the kitchen. She taught me everything I know. She even had pigeons flown from Egypt. All of her food was always excellent. My family's home had a garden with vegetables, fruit trees, and hens. I even had a cow and I use to make cheese for myself. 

What's your favorite recipe?

Thick yogurt with olive oil, mint, and sea salt. 

Favorite summer recipe?

Watermelon & feta salad.

I heard you'll be doing dinner events at Arabica. Can you tell me a little bit about this?

Once a month I host a gathering called Arabica Secret Society. You can buy tickets on facebook if you're friends with us and there is usually around 25 people. It's a themed event and I invite a guest chef to cook and make a beautiful/intimate dinner. It lasts about 5-6 hours. We can dance and have cocktails. The next one will not be in Arabica but a forest. Whoever is invited will get a map to the destination. It will be a luscious evening with candles, wine, and champagne. 

Do you curate the shop? What inspires your art & objects?

Yes, everything in the shop are my personal belongings and aesthetic. They're all from my home. Nothing in particular inspires me it's just the way I see things. 

Where are some of the objects from?

All over. One of the vases is from a cemetery in Caracas, Venezuela. I found a globe on the street and all the furniture is my own. 

What's your most valuable possession?

My dogs. My scottie Khala and my fox terrier Domenico. I love my dogs so much. 

What's on your personal soundtrack?

A lot of music from the 14th century, middle eastern music, and Nicolas Jaar.

What's your vice?

bitter orange marmalade and dark chocolate.

If you could be anywhere, where would you be?

Right here. I love my cafe. My next vacation destination is Egypt. 

Inside their Workshop: St/Co

On my last day in San Francisco I visited a fantastic workshop called Small Trade Company (st/co), a product company inspired by working culture around the world.  Owner Matt & partner Llane were gracious enough to give me a tour of their studio. In addition to the braided denim baskets on the wall, they were working on finishing up a new collection of waxed cotton bags with leather hand stitched straps. 

Designer Matt Dick & his partner Llane in the front of Small Trade Company. 

Inside the Home of Mary O'Regan

Inside the home of Mary O'Regan-- the founder of the style blog Art of Wore and senior features writer at Nordstrom. 

You grew up in Minneapolis. How has it influenced your style?
It opened the door to thrifting. Minnesota has amazing vintage clothing, jewelry and décor in thrift stores peppered throughout the state. Living there gave me access to regular treasure hunts, and I learned how to take vintage pieces and reinterpret them into contemporary looks.

Your day job is senior features writer at Nordstrom. What does that involve exactly?
I write trend guides, lookbooks, styling tips, designer Q&As, blog entries, and things like that. It's fun!

How did you start your style blog- Art of Wore?
I started when I was a senior fashion editor at a magazine publishing company in Minneapolis. My day job was limited to the local fashion scene, and I wanted to be able to write about anything that struck my fancy—an outlet for my style obsessions, local or not. My blog has enabled me to write about items I'm coveting, trend reports, Fashion Week, my personal style and favorite designers.

What inspired you to start working in the fashion industry?
I discovered my love for fashion during my trek around Europe. It was so inspiring seeing the uninhibited way many Europeans dress. When I got back to the states, I started writing about the local fashion scene and eventually got to where I am today.

Who are some of your favorite designers?

Mary Katrantzou, Proenza Schouler, Phillip Lim, Alexander Wang, Alexander McQueen, and Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen.

What other elements influence your personal aesthetic? 
Street fashion. I feel it's more genuine and less contrived versus fashion shows and campaigns which are highly stylized. I love show and campaigns, but when it comes to inspiration for how I'm actually going to dress, I like to see how real people wear things. 

What are some of your favorite style blogs?

Fashion Toast, Oracle Fox, The Glmaourai, Frou Frouu, Garance Doré, and Tommy Ton. 

What are some of your fashion faux pas?

When people wear clothes that don't fit properly. Knowing your size is the first step to dressing well. I also don't like how overly casual everyone has gotten. People don't even dress up to go to the theater anymore. And I know some women who don't own a single pair of heels. It's a shame.

Do you have a daily mantra?

It's more of a way of living: Be carefree, lighten up, have fun with life. Do what feels good and don't care what other people think. 

What's your most valuable possession?

In terms of practicality, my laptop. It's my connection to the outside world. Sentimentally, I'd have to say a delicate vintage koi fish necklace that my boyfriend gave me. 

If you could be anywhere, where would you be?

Pink Floyd, live at Pompeii, Italy 1972. 

What's on your personal soundtrack?

Tons of classic rock, soul, 90s hip hop, and indie rock. I love Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, The National, Bon Iver, Frightened Rabbit, My Morning Jacket, Band of Horses, Sleigh Bells.

What's the last book you read?

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. 

Current read?

Gay Men Don't Get Fat by Simon Doonan.

What has been one of your most gratifying experiences to date?
 Taking off on a solo backpacking trip across Europe for three months. Best thing I ever did.

What're you looking forward to?
Summer in Seattle. Everyone keeps telling me about it. I'm excited for music festivals, sunshine, boating, hiking, sundresses, sunglasses, freckles and bonfires. 

What you do admire most in a woman?

Strength. A woman who knows what she wants, goes for it and doesn't let fears or insecurities get in her way.

How about a man?

Respect. A man who respects the things around him and himself. A smart man with manners, charm, and a sense of decorum.

What's your advice?

Don't worry about what other people think. Do what you think feels right. Go with your gut.