Retired electrical engineer Özlem Gündüz transforms copper, familiar from her profession, into jewelry in her home workshop.
Gündüz, a graduate of Istanbul Technical University's Electrical Engineering Department, graduated in 1999. She left her first job a year later and took up jewelry design as a hobby.
She retired about two years ago from her last job in Istanbul, a company that produced electrical panels. She then decided to develop her hobby using copper.
She converted a part of her summer house in Akçakoca into a workshop. Here, she shapes copper wires by hand. She designs jewelry such as necklaces, bracelets, anklets, and rings by welding and melting with a blowtorch.
She sells her products in the market established for women entrepreneurs in Yukarı Mahalle. She also sends them online to many cities, especially Ankara, Izmir, and Antalya.
Özlem Gündüz stated that she took up jewelry design as a hobby 26 years ago after leaving her first job.
After her retirement, she turned to copper processing. She developed herself by researching Ministry of National Education publications and online videos.
After learning the craft, she continued her work in her home workshop. Gündüz noted the following:
"First, I tried to imitate what I saw, and then I started to turn what I imagined into jewelry. I used to do a very enjoyable job. I was in the sector producing electrical panels, and we were dealing with copper. Copper has a very special place for me. The smell when it heats up as electricity passes through it is incredibly pleasing to me. When I work with copper, I immediately return to my profession."
Gündüz stated that she makes bracelets, necklaces, anklets, and rings by processing copper. "While bending, twisting, and cutting are sufficient for some designs, I need to weld for others. For this, I use a blowtorch. I love using mythological symbols in my designs. The lotus flower and spiral symbol are among my most preferred." she said.
Gündüz noted that she receives orders for her products, which she shares on social media, from different cities. "I shoot and share videos of how my products are made on my social media. It received a lot of interest; people I know and my followers started asking for the products I made. I also set up a website for this. I had the opportunity to send my products to many cities, especially Antalya, Izmir, and Ankara. I want to increase this even further. Working with copper gives me joy. I love sharing these, and getting my creations to people," she stated.
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