Aysegul Birol was born in Istanbul, Türkiye, and displayed a passion for art from an early age. This passion led her to graduate from Marmara University with a degree in Applied Fine Arts. She continued her creative pursuits at Link Multimedia, where she collaborated with her husband to win several international awards for their work.

In 1996, Aysegul moved to North America with her family, first to Boston and later to Toronto. It was during this time abroad that she began her journey into jewellery making. Seeking to bridge her ancient cultural heritage with contemporary design, Aysegul drew inspiration from the textures, scents, and patterns of her beloved Türkiye. Her debut collection, Spice, and her current mixed-media series, Kaftan, reflect this deep connection.

In 2020, she returned to her roots, settling in the picturesque town of Bodrum on the Aegean coast. Aysegul’s art is a vivid expression of her life’s journey, offering a unique perspective on Turkish culture. A master of diverse, non-traditional materials, she crafts with everything from epoxy to polymer clay, always guided by an artistic sensibility that honours timeless concepts of colour and balance.

The Kaftan collection is a unique synthesis of old and new. It began while Aysegul was still living in Canada and taking yearly trips back to Turkiye. While in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, she discovered a surprisingly well preserved, antique Kaftan woven with Sirma thread. At first, Aysegul was reluctant to cut into this precious piece. Inspiration galvanised her creative passions with her courage after she eagerly absorbed a masterclass on polymer clay techniques. With her newfound skills crafting bold geometric shapes from polymer clay, she dreamed of capturing the bold cultural impact of the Kaftan, the extremely delicate Sirma thread within these polymer shapes. These painstakingly extracted threads form the foundation of the collection. Ancient textiles uniquely combined with modern materials breathed new purpose and life into history.

The collection celebrates and honours cultural relics of her past. Blended with her artistic heart and hands using modern techniques and materials, Aysegul has created objects with a life meant to extend long into future generations. These new works now stand as witness to history. Each piece is handcrafted with dedication, intended to make its wearer feel connected to and uplifted by the powerful currents of creative history.