Rifat Ozbek Turkish designer Date of Birth: 11.07.1953 Country: Turkey

Biography of Rifat Ozbek

Rifat Ozbek, a renowned Turkish designer, was born in Istanbul in 1953. He grew up in the same city and at the age of eighteen, he moved to England to study. Initially, Ozbek studied architecture at one of the universities in Liverpool. In 1974, he enrolled in the London School of Art at Saint Martin's, where he pursued a degree in fashion design. After completing his studies in London, Ozbek served in the military in Turkey and also worked in a fashion company in Milan.

In 1980, Ozbek returned to London and began working as a stylist in a ready-to-wear company. Four years later, in 1984, he opened his own fashion house and started participating in prêt-à-porter shows, first in London and then in Milan. His debut collection showcased in 1984 was a culmination of his impressions gathered during extensive travels to interesting cities in India and the Far East. The collection, in fact, turned out to be exceptional, blending various national traditional motifs. In the period from 1980 to 1990, Ozbek was known as a designer predominantly working in the ethnic style.

Subsequently, Ozbek created several more collections that also received great success. Critics praised him as the creator of sensual and daring clothing, as well as stylish and fashionable. Indeed, his clothing collections have always been characterized by originality, uniqueness, and exoticism. The designer's perfumery creations also arouse extraordinary interest. For example, the fragrance Ozbek continues to captivate the senses of many women who prefer a romantic, delicate, mysterious, and sensual perfume.

In 2001, Rifat Ozbek temporarily paused his work in the fashion industry to focus on family matters, such as renovating his own house near Bodrum. After a few years, the renowned designer was invited to join the Italian company Pollini as the creative director.