INTERVIEW WITH US LUXURY DIRECTOR AT FINANCIAL TIMES

Nessi Erkmenoglu by María Camnar

Nessi Erkmenoglu was interviewed in her home in Brooklyn, wearing her Pamela and Paco.

MC: What are your favorite objects to hold?

My coffee cup or small porcelain sharing bowls that I make.

I drink my coffee in this cup, I have a moment with myself before everything and anything begins. I actually found this cup, at a restaurant in Puerto Escondido. It’s a beautiful cup made of the local red clay. It broke a bit, which makes it even more beautiful.

And bowls: they are the ultimate vessel of sharing. I’m Turkish. Our meals involve sharing.

MC: What body part intrigues you?

I don’t think I’ve ever thought about this.

Hips, they enable us to walk and dance. They bring everything together and I love how everyone has different curves in their hips.

MC: A book that has been on your mind lately?

Birds Without Wings. It's fiction but based on historic events. Everyone is living side by side,Turks, Greeks, Armenians. I didn’t necessarily want to give a political answer, but I loved reading it. There was no distinction between them, making it so easy to fall in with anyone and everyone.

Also The Unbearable Lightness of Being, it's so descriptive and depicting of the world, and the mindset of a person, of Milan Kundera.

Nessi wears her Pamela Blazer while holding her favorite cup

SHOP THE BLAZER

MC: You are an admirer of beauty. I see it in your work, in your home and when I think of Turkey, one of the words that comes up is beauty, I'm imagining it's the same for you?

Yes. I see so much beauty when I’m there. I didn’t consistently grow up there so maybe I have a rosy picture of it but it’s the definition of beauty for me. The Aegean sea has a lot to do with that, it’s aspiring and inspiring.That’s why those ceramics that I'm making are blue.

MC: Did you move a lot growing up?

I did, back then I didn't really know anything different, and I appreciate it even more now- I had friends that found it difficult, I in turn embraced it, but it was only with time that I realized how special it really is to meet so many people from different cultures; so I decided to continue to do so in my adult life. It enriches me so much.

Everyone has a different story and I learn so much from it. When my five year mark of living in NYC came, I had an itch of wanting to move, but I decided to stay still and stay because I knew it was a place that would add, New York always adds, even if you stay still.

MC: What is a word that comes up as you share this? is it freindship?

It is a common thread in my life. I like to meet people. I have a pretty eclectic group of friends, and I like to make a home where people gather. I like to host, curate the food, the napkins, etc. New York can be challenging at times. We really need our people, and we want our friends to come through, and they do, just not always how we were expecting them to. And that's okay.

MC: A place in the world that your heart deeply cherishes?

Bodrum, it’s where everything started, and where everything comes together. Again, the Aegean sea.

I've also enjoyed getting to know Mexico,every part of it. I’ve seen the unfolding of it because when I started my journey of exploring the country it wasn’t as popular as it is now. I really enjoyed that element of discovery, of uncovering and finding surprising parallels with Turkey.

Nessi wearing paco - ( right photo features nessi's ceramics 345 by nessi )

SHOP THE PANT

MC: Your favorite part of being the Head of US Luxury at Financial Times?

I love learning about brands. and I like working with people.I like to relate to the parts of the brands that make them stand out and help them connect to the right audience. Connecting with other people really enables me to be myself.

When I’m listening, I'm understanding something, when I'm working I'm understanding what a brand does, and then I take the knowledge I have of the Financial Times and find the best way to share the brand's story to our audience. I truly enjoy being able to discover the special and unique parts of a brand, and sharing that. There's always a distinct story to tell.