Ayshe Zaifoglu
Ayshe Zaifoglu
TELL US ABOUT A MEMORY YOU HAVE WHICH
CONNECTS YOU TO YOUR HERITAGE
AZ
Feeding the lambs. Every year we would be in Cyprus for a big chunk of the summer and my dede (grandad) always had a new lamb and a new dog on his farm each year. I literally have a photo of me from when I could walk, up until I was grown feeding a lamb with a baby's milk bottle. Such a villager memory to have but I love it.
HOW HAS LIVING IN LONDON SHAPED AND INFLUENCED YOUR PERSONAL STYLE?
AZ
I would say being from and still living in London has made me treat a matching tracksuit and trainers like a uniform. Growing up it was very much a thing of, the sicker your trainers, the sicker you are in the social rankings. I feel like in London, we’re always on the go, which is so cliche to say but we’ve always got to be ready for anything and I think a tracksuit encapsulates that. I would also add that, being a girl from London has very much shaped the idea of a girl that can do both. London girls carry a swag that transcends regardless of the outfit and I definitely champion being able to dress in any which way I want and feel accepted.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS BEHIND THE VISUAL AND
OUTFIT YOU HAVE CURATED FOR STYLING HERITAGE
AZ
My red and white Nike 95’s represent the Turkish Cypriot flag. My boiler suit represents the absolute grafters that Cypriots but the setting is more telling. A Turkish rug to represent the ottoman heritage of where Turkish Cypriots are from and Turkish tea, a classic of course. The tradition of Turkish Tea is engrained in every Cypriot, it’s always there but there are some outdated tea pouring traditions where young women offer tea to a possible suited and I wanted to play off of that and show a modern village girl in her Nike’s and not falling into the pressures of marriage.
WHAT IS YOUR HERITAGE?
AZ
I’m from the very special but unrecognised North side of Cyprus. The Turkish side of the island. There’s always a huge confusion when you say you’re from Cyprus because everyone just assumes you’re Greek or just ‘Cypriot’ which isn’t the case but regardless, it is the most beautiful island, so rich in culture it transcends.
Image maker and brand owner ayshe zaifoglu PHOTOGRAPHED BY EMILY ALMODOVAR.