It’s Always a Good Idea to Give Local Artisans a Chance. Here’s Why

13 Mayıs 2026

Erkan İçen Studio hakkında Soigné’de yayınlanan yazıyı sizlerle paylaşıyoruz…

When it comes to choosing a bag, would you rather carry something that truly represents you or just another brand name? Your fashion choices should reflect your individuality. Investing in bags that are thoughtfully crafted with care and skill brings a sense of authenticity to your style, compared to mass-produced options that prioritize profit over quality.

Before you spend your hard-earned money on an overpriced bag from a fast fashion brand, take a step outside your home and go for a walk. That’s what I did. Believe it or not, I stumbled upon a Tango dancer who is also a professional bag maker on that walk.

Erkan İçen’s career in leatherwork started as early as eleven years old. He began working alongside his father making leather shoes and then moved on to become an apprentice and be trained by Andonaki Zerhos, a Greek leather craftsman.

As he grew older and after completing his military service he decided to pursue a professional career in leather bag making. He studied at Aydin University for shoe making and leather crafts and continued on at Istanbul University for cultural heritage. From there he started working with companies like Deforme and Mosö who produced for Hotiç, and much more.

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    Erkan İçen Studio hakkında Soigné'de yayınlanan yazıyı sizlerle paylaşıyoruz... When it comes to choosing a bag, would you rather carry something that truly represents you or just another brand name? Your fashion choices should reflect your individuality. Investing in bags that are thoughtfully crafted with care and skill brings a sense of authenticity to your [...]