Winner of the Vanguard Award at the Fashion Awards, Turkish designer Dilara Fındıkoğlu is emerging in 2025 as one of the key figures in contemporary fashion. Her bold, radical universe, blending historical references with an unapologetic sense of femininity challenges the traditional codes of women’s clothing.
From Turkey to London: the promising beginnings of Dilara Fındıkoğlu
Before turning twenty, Dilara Fındıkoğlu left Istanbul, her hometown, for London. She enrolled at the prestigious Central Saint Martins, the fashion school that has trained legends such as Phoebe Philo, Alexander McQueen, and John Galliano. During her final-year internship, she worked at Maison Margiela, a defining experience that refined her eye for detail and her approach to couture.
Specializing in highly couture-inspired women’s ready-to-wear, Dilara Fındıkoğlu approaches fashion as a means of subverting the dictates imposed on women. Her goal is to design garments that support women through the different stages of their lives. After gaining valuable experience in several fashion houses, she founded her own brand. In doing so, she joined the growing list of female designers launching their eponymous labels, a strategic way for women in the industry to access creative leadership roles. In 2017, she drew the attention of the fashion world by entering the LVMH Prize and reaching the semi-finals, an early recognition that highlighted her talent alongside that year’s French winner, Marine Serre.
A universe at the crossroads of worlds
Dilara Fındıkoğlu’s universe is defined by a bold fusion of eras and influences. Medieval and Victorian aesthetics collide in creations that celebrate feminine power while infusing each silhouette with a theatrical dimension. Her signature is instantly recognizable: sculptural corsets, dramatic trains, structural boning, and intricate lacing define her pieces, while black, nude, and red dominate her palette, combined with materials such as lace, leather, and mesh.
Even the titles of her collections are statements in themselves: “Cage of Innocence” for Spring-Summer 2026, “Venus from Chaos” for Autumn–Winter 2025, and “No Man’s Territory” for Autumn-Winter 2023. These names reflect both the strength and the radical nature of her creations, directly echoing her commitment to female liberation and self-assertion.
A still-insufficient beginning of recognition
The enthusiasm surrounding her work extends far beyond the closed circles of Fashion Week. Music-world celebrities such as Rosalía and Ice Spice, as well as Kim Kardashian, have recently been spotted wearing her designs. Her work is also praised by some of the most influential fashion professionals of her generation, mainly @Lyas, the fashion critic behind the Watch Parties, who screened the “Cage of Innocence” runway show and even gave away an invitation to one audience member.
Alongside recognition from a highly demanding industry, Dilara Fındıkoğlu collaborates with international brands such as Heavn, one of Marc Jacobs’ labels, and Khy, Kylie Jenner’s ready-to-wear brand. These collaborations allow her to democratize her creations and reach audiences beyond a fairly niche fashion sphere. Because her designs are clearly not accessible to everyone: prices start at around €2,000 for a dress and can go up to €5,000 for a jacket.
Now, despite her international reputation and successful collaborations, her brand remains fragile. In January 2024, due to a lack of sufficient funding, Dilara was unable to take part in London Fashion Week, highlighting how independent designers, and women in particular who face additional barriers, must constantly contend with financial constraints.
Winner of the Vanguard Award in 2025, Dilara Fındıkoğlu embodies a new generation of designers reinventing women’s fashion. Her collections do more than dress women: they tell stories, explore identities, and celebrate female power in all its forms. More than a fashion designer, Dilara Fındıkoğlu is a contemporary voice who inspires and redefines what it means to be a woman in fashion and in today’s world.
