Biography

VURAL GÖKÇAYLI

TURKISH FASHION DESIGNER

After studying at the Italian College in İstanbul, in Turkey, Vural GÖKÇAYLI left for Paris in 1962, where he learned French and French literature at the Alliance Française while following courses on theatre costumes at the Ecole du Louvre and the Académie des Beaux-Arts.

At the same time, after a successful training at GIVENCHY, he became with Angelo TARLATZI, an Italian designer who already had a name in Paris, the assistant of Michel GOMA, artistic director of JEAN PATOU at that time.

In 1967, he became the artistic director of Franz MOLENAR, who, at that time, opened the first Parisian style Fashion House in Amsterdam, in Netherlands. During this period, he prepared 3 collections: for Paris, New-York and Berlin. In 1968, he designed a collection for Sylvie Vartan’s boutique.

At the end of 68, he returned to Turkey, where he opened his own “Maison de Couture” in the famous Rumeli avenue. His first collection was shown at Büyük Ankara Hotel and Park Hotel in İstanbul. In 1970, he organized a défilé for the benefit of the Association Against Tuberculosis. In this défilé, GÖKÇAYLI, used for the first time in Turkey the theme of Pantomime. In 1975, his fashion show was organized at the Netherlands’ Consulate. In 1976, he showed his winter collection at the Japan Consulate for the benefit of Children’s Health Association and immediately after, at the Japanese Embassy in Ankara.

In 1977, he was sent to Brussells to Nato as an ambassador of Turkish fashion by the Foreign Affairs Minister. The same year, with the help of Mrs KORUTÜRK, wife of the President of the Republic of Turkey, he organized a fashion show for the Military Mutual Assistance Association. In April 1978, with the help of the French Ambassador and his wife, the spring and summer collection was presented at the Palais de France in Istanbul. From 1979 to 1981, and in 1983, with the help of the Italian Ambassador, the collections were presented at the Italian Embassy. In 1983, his summer fashion show was organized for the benefit of the International Lioness Federation, and was highly praised by a large public.

In 1983, with the help of the Minister Foreign Affairs of Egypt, he presented his collections in Cairo during the “Turkish Week”. In 1985, one of his fashion show was organized for American Express. In 1987, his fashion shows were shown at the Palais de France in Istanbul, and at the French Embassy of Ankara for the benefit of Red Cross and the Hôpital de la Paix. In 1989, his collections were presented during the “Turkish Week” of Munich, and the same year, organized a défilé in Yildiz Palace for the benefit of Children’s Protection Foundation. In 1990, the défilé on the benefit of Aphrodisias Foundation was presented at the British Consulate. In 1993, for the same association, he presented his fashion shows at the Palais de France. In 1993, thanks to the Foreign Affairs Minister and the 500 Years Foundation, a fashion show was organized in Israel.

In 1996, a fashion show was presented at the Austrian Consulate, and the same year, thanks to the will of Professor Doctor Türkan SAYLAN and the help of the General Manager of Yapı Kredi Bankası, Mr Burhan KARACAM, a défilé was shown at the Yapı Kredi Park.

In 1997, a défilé has been presented for the benefit of the Aphrodisias Foundation at Istanbul Stock Exchange. In 1998, again for the benefit of the Aphrodisias Foundation, Ottoman and Byzantine synthesis défilé has been presented as a Gala of 2 nights in a row at Çiragan Palace. The same défilé was shown for the Association of Contemporary Life Support and for the Turkish Education Voluntaries Foundation at the Çiragan Palace. 

In April 2001, the new fashion show was presented in Çiragan Palace for the benefit of the Aphrodisias Foundation, then at the Fenerbahçe Military Officers Club for the benefit of Mehmetçik Association and finally, for the benefit of the Turkish Women Association at the British Embassy of Ankara.

In April 2003, the Year 68 theme collection défilé was presented for the benefit of Aphrodisias Foundation at Çiragan Palace and for the benefit of the Turkish Women Association at the French Embassy in Ankara.

In 2004, again for the benefit of Aphrodisias Foundation, a défilé with Erté theme has been presented at Rahmi KOÇ museum.

In 2007, the “Perspective” défilé held in Rahmi KOÇ museum had a great success.

In 2010, the défilé “The knot of Seldjuk” and “Aphrodisias” had been presented in Rahmi KOÇ museum.

Since 1998, he teaches the history of costumes and fashion at Yeditepe University.