“The Turkish fashion industry in London is so exciting. Brands like ERDEM, Dilara Findikoglu and Bora Aksu are all paving the way for future Turkish designers and talent within the industry. I love seeing Turkish cultural references and handmade techniques, especially in Dilara’s collections.”
Born in London, Meryem Comak moved to Doncaster, South Yorkshire with her family at the age of 11, though she always had a passion for returning to her home city. At 19, she finally moved back to live with her sister, who was studying there, and London has been her home ever since.
Words by Zeynep Yeniçeri. Portraits by Charles Cave.
Both of Comak’s parents are Turkish, and though they met in Turkey, both relocated to London in their early years; her mother moved in her late teens and her father in his early twenties. Currently, she resides in Tottenham, after spending the past five years in Hackney, a neighbourhood she loved. She is now exploring Tottenham and has been with AP Communications for nearly three years, working from their offices located between Notting Hill Gate and Queensway. At AP Communications, Comak works in communications for luxury fashion brands. The agency is a full-service, brand-building entity that creates opportunities across all touchpoints, including traditional PR, events, fashion shows, social media and marketing.
Her journey to becoming an account director was unconventional and somewhat accidental. She studied journalism at University of the Arts London (UAL), though she admitted she was not particularly interested in the course, always knowing she wanted to enter the fashion industry. Influenced by her grandmother and aunts, who worked as seamstresses in London factories, Comak grew up curious about fashion. She and her sisters were obsessed with trying on their aunt's clothes and heels, admiring her style and how she mixed textures.
While at university, Comak worked in pubs, where she developed essential communication skills. Initially, she was not the most outgoing or confident 19-year-old, but engaging with customers helped her develop those qualities. A friend in the industry, an editor, advised her on breaking into the field and helped her secure an internship interview at Burberry, followed by an agency in London. She balanced interning during the day and working evenings for nearly six months until she landed a press assistant position at ERDEM, which was recommended by the agency. To her surprise, she got the job and spent over three years there, learning extensively. Her journey with AP Communications began in the summer of 2021 and has been marked by growth ever since.
Comak says her Turkish heritage significantly influenced her work ethic. Her parents faced many challenges when they moved to the UK and worked hard to provide for their family. Her father was working three jobs at one point, and her mother nurtured four young children in her mid-twenties. They instilled in her the value of hard work and self-reliance. She says their perseverance inspired her, and they were particularly proud when she joined ERDEM, a Turkish/British brand.
She explains that she enjoys seeing Turkish brands strive in the fashion industry: “The Turkish fashion industry in London is so exciting. Brands like ERDEM, Dilara Findikoglu and Bora Aksu are all paving the way for future Turkish designers and talent within the industry. I love seeing Turkish cultural references and handmade techniques, especially in Dilara’s collections. I’m also a big fan of Manu Atelier.”
When asked about any standout moments from her career, she does not hesitate to answer, “My first London Fashion Week at ERDEM was a standout moment – I couldn’t believe I was there in the thick of it. At AP Communications, we’ve had so many standout moments and projects I’m so proud to have been a part of. [One of these was] organizing an exhibition and dinner at Claridge’s hotel with Harper’s Bazaar for the launch of Alexi Lubomirski’s book, The Sittings (2003-2023). [The book features] a collection of 113 portraits spanning the last 20 years of his career as one of the world’s leading fashion and celebrity portrait photographers. We also recently worked on a Chinese New Year Party for HUISHAN ZHANG with George Club during LFW, that was a lot of fun!”
One piece of advice that has stuck with her, though it may sound negative, is, "everyone is replaceable." It keeps her grounded and motivated. What she loves most about her profession is the people. She adores her team and enjoys meeting external creatives. She also finds great satisfaction in seeing weeks of event planning come to fruition.
Looking ahead, Meryem Comak has several exciting projects and events lined up for this year, particularly with their accessory brands. She also hopes to explore the beauty industry.
Discover this piece inside the Türkiye Chapter at The Silk Road Issue 12
Purchase your copy here.
Comments