Izmir University of Economics (IUE) draws attentions with its fashion graduates. Pınar Kaplankıran, one of the first graduates of IUE Department of Fashion and Textile Design, puts her signature, as a Secretary General of Fashion Designers Association, under very important organizations that leads Turkish fashion. Kaplankıran, who has been taking many different positions at the Fashion Designers Association since 2007, is also the coordinator for important organizations like Pınar Istanbul Fashion Week, GalataModa Festival.
Kaplankıran, one of the first students of IUE Department of Fashion and Textile Design, started her career in Istanbul after her graduation in 2005. “I studied fashion business at IUE. This option program started with 9 students, and faithful academicians who were more excited than the students. After studying the common core courses for one year, I chose to specialize in fashion business. I was able to raise the bar for my dreams thanks to IUE academicians and administrators, who enabled us to have close contacts with the fashion sector. Today, I assume the responsibility of Secretary General of Fashion Designers Association. I am enjoying the outcomes of combining my dreams with my education,” said Kaplankıran.
The young Secretary General Kaplankıran stated that she was able to work with well-experienced but young fashion designers, and she appreciated the quality of university education at her work life. She said the education she received at IUE opened many doors for her. Kaplankıran stated the following:
“As soon as I graduated in 2005, I started working as an assistant to brand manager in DEMSA. In 2007, I started to work as administrative affairs employee at the newly established Fashion Designers Association, and became a general coordinator on my fourth year there. I was responsible for coordinating the events such as Istanbul Fashion Week, GalataModa Festival, which were organized in Turkey for the first time. The fashion management education I received at IUE, which is a significant component of fashion sector that is a developing progress in Turkey, supported me a lot during this process. It made a difference in my career. I worked with Hakan Yıldırım throughout 2011; he is the creator of the brand name Hakaan who has many international achievements. I coordinated the brand and corporate relations for him. I have been working as the Secretary General for Fashion Designers Association with its 4th period administrative board since 2012. Specializing in fashion business in addition to having good command of fashion became a distinction for me.”
