Good People of vitruta: Gamze Kantarcıoğlu

Gamze, welcome! Let's jump right into the first question, our most formal one, I think. 🙂 Who is Gamze Kantarcıoğlu? How did it all begin, how is it continuing, and what are you up to?

Thank you so much for making me a part of your lovely community, Selçuk! The question "Who is Gamze Kantarcıoğlu?" feels quite serious, making me feel very important! Let me start: I participated in the competition in 1989 from İzmir. My family moved to Istanbul during my elementary school years, and I've been living here ever since. I've been working in the media industry as an editor/writer for about ten years. For the last three years, I've held the position of editor-in-chief at Vogue Türkiye, which is quite a cool title! The word “editor” does sound funny; on one hand, I don’t consider myself serious enough to be called an “editor,” but on the other hand, I take my work very seriously, so it fits me quite well.

You're usually in the opposite role, asking the questions. How did your journey into the world of publishing begin, and what influenced you the most at the start of your career?

People often wonder how I entered the industry. I’m not a journalism graduate; I came in through the back door. While studying Sociology at Boğaziçi University, I started interning at İnfomag Publishing, and I can say the rest came together like a thread. I worked for many years at Turkish Airlines’ in-flight magazine, Skylife. I contributed to Women’s Health and Psychologies magazines, wrote articles and conducted interviews for publications like Istanbul Art News, XOXO, The Culture Trip, Based Istanbul, and ArtDog. I also worked as a copywriter for brands, prepared press releases, and did text editing.

The start of my journey into publishing probably goes back to my childhood and teenage years. I eagerly awaited the latest issues of Cosmo Girl, Hey Girl, Blue Jean, Roll, and later Aktüel, Tempo, Billboard, Rolling Stone… even CNBC-e magazine! I remember being excited about who would be on the cover of these magazines, which posters they would include, and what surveys they had (and whether Berk from 7-B liked me based on the survey results??). While my memory isn’t generally very strong, I clearly recall the excitement and passion I had for these magazines.

Reading interviews with people I saw on TV, in series, or in music videos felt like a delight, as if I were reading their diaries. Perhaps that’s what pushed me into publishing: the joy of curiosity and the thrill of learning about what others are curious about.

For me, the most impressive aspect of publishing, or if we broaden the scope, the media industry, is the constant pursuit of innovation and the ability to share it with others. It’s being able to ask others what they want without looking like a stalker. It's getting commissioned to research and write about topics you’re curious about while also getting paid for it. I believe it’s one of the most beautiful professions for curious individuals.

Vogue is now appearing in so many different outlets that it must be exhausting. How do you adapt to so many diverse fields?

It can be tiring, I won’t lie! From the outside, the magazine industry may seem like a “laylaylom” world, but it’s actually one where a lot of work is done in a short amount of time, surrounded by tight deadlines, temperamental celebrities, quirky managers, and PR folks who can be overly persistent. Like many jobs, this is one of those that you can’t do without passion.

Honestly, while the areas I’ve worked in have changed over the years, my curious approach and the meticulousness I show when creating a piece of work haven’t changed much. Therefore, I believe I’ve been able to adapt easily to different subjects. Even if I venture into another sector in the future, as long as I’m curious about it, I feel like I’ll dive right in.

On the other hand, you also paint, of course, so let’s talk about that! :)

I’m not sure how to discuss it because I’m quite shy about it!

When did this passion start, how did it begin, and what influences you?

I think deep down, I’ve known for years that I had some inclination toward painting. You know, in high school, I would draw caricatures of my teachers, and people would say I resembled them; they found it funny and all. Many years later, I decided I wanted a hobby, so I enthusiastically bought a watercolor set. I noticed that the apples I painted looked like apples, and the pears looked like pears, so I thought I’d attend a class. I started going to the painting workshop in Moda, Moda127, where my lovely teachers, Asuman and Özeren, put up with my impatience and the moods I’d get into when I couldn’t do something.

I love painting because it takes me away from other things; my painting hours are my “offline” moments. Unfortunately, I can’t say I have grand artistic ambitions; I wish I did! Generally, I enjoy painting childlike subjects like flowers, insects, cats, dogs, the sea, and the beach. I choose images and colors that make me happy while painting. As a viewer, I find joy in looking at works by cheerful painters like David Hockney, Etel Adnan, or Wayne Thiebaud. While I don’t have professional goals in painting, I do take on commissioned pieces for friends and family. Let me do a little advertising here! Taking commissions motivates me; each new piece becomes a new challenge. Otherwise, I can be quite lazy in this regard.

How does it feel to be back in the same community with your close friends Ecem and Melike after all these years? :)

I've always been surrounded by amazing people; it’s been like that for me. Whether in elementary school, university, or my current work environment, interesting individuals seem to find me or vice versa. In other words, those with good energy probably attract each other. I’m excited to meet not just golden girls like Ecem and Melike but also others in the Good People community.

Lastly, can you share your three favorite brands at vitruta?

First on the list is Camper. If I had to part with all my shoes, I would only keep my Campers; they’re incredibly comfortable, and I love their designs. I also find the 70s-inspired, psychedelic designs from the local brand Vatka.co to be fun. Chimi is becoming my new favorite eyewear brand. I’m quite picky about glasses because not every pair suits my face, but every pair I’ve tried from Chimi has fit perfectly.

For the products styled by Melis Güven and selected by Gamze Kantarcıoğlu in the shoot, you can click here.