Nurdan Sinal’s collection ‘Culture in My Wounds’ is an expression of the idea of oppression and the opposite feeling; liberation. Liberating the female body through modesty and culture and what that feels like when it is a choice rather than a must. Coming from a strong Turkish background wanting to merge the beauty standards of urban London with her heritage. Restricting a usually soft and easily draped jersey to show that even though something may look uncomfortable it can become comfort mentally and physically and make you feel stronger than you ever have been.

When starting to design Nurdan begin by draping on the stand to create interesting silhouettes using fabric or other materials she could obtain. Letting the lightweight jersey drop to then manipulate in a wrap technique over the body making sure to conceal. As the shapes develop so does her technique and use of proportion and movement to add a sense of uniqueness to each piece constructed. Merging Eastern with Western with the use of traditional hand beading and embroidery on veils with the modernity of the way the jersey is restricted on the body, wanting to eliminate the negative connotations of veiling and convey a sense of light-heartedness with the play of colour and fabrics.

‘Culture in my Wounds’ is Nurdan’s journey in order to accept who she is as a designer as well as a woman. Using flamboyant yet simplistic garments as a weapon to regain lost power and accomplish this through the play on irony in her use of traditional floral print and taking back her culture and so her point of view with her hand beaded colourful veils. Knowing that it is impossible to combine every aspect of heritage, faith and feminism into one collection but wanting to portray the emotions and strength in every woman.