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Interview

Şamdan Plus

Evin Tümay speaks to Şamdan Plus about the gift that first exposed a gap in men’s jewellery, the longing and excitement behind creation, and her own way of balancing contrast and harmony.

Şamdan Plus interview with Evin Tümay

“Design begins with inspiration, and inspiration can come from research, observation, knowledge or life itself.”

Evin Tümay

From the interview

  1. 01

    Your contemporary approach to men’s jewellery has now met collectors. How did the journey develop?

    I have always loved jewellery. When I could not find the kind of piece I wanted, I would sometimes draw it and have it made. I first noticed the gap in men’s jewellery while looking for an unusual birthday gift for my husband. Looking back through history, I then saw that jewellery was once no less a part of men’s lives than women’s; in some periods, kings and sultans wore the most colourful and magnificent pieces. I approach jewellery, once a marker of status, nobility and strength, through a modern lens and give it a genderless form with masculine lines.

  2. 02

    What emotions accompanied you as you made these designs?

    Two feelings dominated. The first was a longing I could not name or locate. If the creative process was a search, I felt that the discovery at its end might bring that longing to rest. The other was excitement: the excitement of beginning a new story and of being able to tell new stories through different instruments and forms.

  3. 03

    What does the design process give you?

    Design begins with inspiration, and inspiration can come from research, observation, knowledge or life itself. When inspiration arrives, I feel a surge of energy and become impatient to express it. Then comes the work of finding the clearest expression. It is a private moment in which the outside world falls away and I remain alone with my inner world. When I can finally say, ‘Yes, that says it,’ the design is complete, followed by relief and delight.

  4. 04

    How would you describe your own style?

    If I had to choose one word, I would say situational. I enjoy sportswear in daily life. For evening, black dresses, mini skirts and Louboutin shoes are constants. I like mixing masculine and feminine pieces, especially well-cut tailored trousers with elegant bodysuits. The accessory I care about most is the belt.

  5. 05

    How do you see the relationship between jewellery, accessories and a complete look?

    Sometimes I build combinations that are harmonious and closely aligned; at other times I bring opposites together. A brooch is indispensable whenever I wear a jacket. An expressive brooch on a well-cut jacket with broad lapels lifts the look entirely, creating something both striking and sophisticated. The balance of contrast and harmony depends on how I want to feel. I also care deeply that jewellery should carry a story.

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