Bant Breen:
Yildiz is the Co-Founder of Yildiz Aylin, it is a fashion-focused business and an incredible kind of disruptive model and we’ll get into that shortly. Tell me a little bit about how the model works.
Yildiz Blackstone:
What we wanted to create is we wanted women to want beauty, elegance, and gorgeous clothes, but not necessarily everything has to be an investment piece. What we wanted to have besides bringing these unique designers in front of our clients, also wanted to create collections that bring elegance chic style quality at an affordable price point. We quickly decided to eliminate the brick-and-mortar model. Because there is no way we can be very competitively priced if we were paying the Madison Avenue rents. It started at my apartment where I invited a couple of designers, Aylin and I created the collections exactly how we want to where I live downtown. Together we created this styled, curated show, and our clients love it because then they could buy very high-end pieces at the almost wholesale price point.
Bant Breen:
Tell me what brought you joy today? How have you found joy over this time? How have you kind of I guess stayed sane through the whole pandemic?
Yildiz Blackstone:
That’s a great question. I have to say, it’s easy to ask this question to others. During the pandemic, I realized if I didn’t bring myself this question daily, I was not going to get through because everything I know stops my business stop. I was separated from my Turkish family. Nothing is in my control. Everything is out of control. I have to find a way to survive and one way to survive for me was what’s the joy of the day? What did I enjoy today? The Pandemic taught me to enjoy the journey. Every day one baby step or this collection, we uploaded online got a reaction that I am enjoying every moment, rather than, what’s the projection of this year? Where are we at between last year? This is such a long enjoyment and it’s like at the end of the year, then you are either sad or you’re happy and then you’re already on the race for the next phase. With the pandemic, we couldn’t control anything around us.
Bant Breen:
How do you see things evolving in the near future for, not only Yildiz Aylin but also for the fashion industry in general?
Yildiz Blackstone:
I believe fashion is here to stay, because it’s not about need, it’s about want. It’s a very feelings-related business. I believe the online portion is here to stay. I believe seeing, touching clothes, and having a physical experience will never be replaced online. A clienteling will be very, very important because, as we have seen in the past year when you have a relationship, you can survive and you can grow. I believe it’s online and it is going to be stronger, but it’s not going to take over the physical experience.
Bant Breen:
Yildiz, thank you so much for being on UNCAGED today and we look forward to having you back.
To see the full interview on the Uncaged YouTube channel, go to:
