STYLED SPOTLIGHT: The Turkish Jeweller Bedazzling Bugs
From pearl-encrusted crawfish to bedazzled beetles, Turkey’s Begüm Khan has carved a niche where the whimsy is also opulent. This is why its founder Begüm Kiroglu did it.
Under the Spotlight
Luxury jewellery label Begüm Khan.
The Setting
Istanbul, Turkey & Bodrum, Turkey
The Frame
Luxury jewellery you’ll likely find in a live action fairytale blockbuster.
In Three Words
Bedazzled botanical wonderland.
The Brand Through Begüm Kiroglu’s Lens
“Everything we bring to the table has an element of the mystical to it. It’s a fairytale, that’s what the Begum Khan world is.”
Now What’s the Deal?
Begüm Khan’s signature pieces are outspoken; flora, fauna, and insecta form the main pillars upon which the luxury brand’s identity is built. Throughout Begüm Khan’s collections, glittering mushrooms and bedazzled beetles immediately grasp attention. Scarabs, roses, Chinese dragons, and elephants intertwine, and on some occasions, multiple within the same piece. The luxury label also pays tribute to its Middle Eastern heritage, with a series of statement pieces prominently featuring the evil eye emblem.
How Did This Come to Be?
Begüm Kiroglu’s brand began coincidentally in 2012.
Kiroglu sought to gift her brother a pair of cufflinks for his wedding but couldn't find anything suitable. While pursuing a master's degree in Chinese culture and art at Shanghai's Fudan University, she created her first pair and discovered a natural talent for the craft. This experience led her to launch a label she describes as a "parallel reality."
Her passion for the arts is deeply rooted in her family of Ottoman art collectors and her childhood dreams. "We grow up watching fairy tales, and they never leave us," she tells Scene Styled.
The Stars of the Show
“The Begum Khan family has its pillars; and it’s the scarab, the turtle, and the evil eye.”
Her Muse
“There is intrigue in the unfamiliar. No one makes jewellery fashioned after bugs, it’s such a stark contrast to what’s out there, and that drew me in. My eyes and heart are always open to new dreams, ones I strive to turn into realities. To be an artist is to find inspiration amongst other artists, and I’m all about collaboration. Who says no to an extra canvas?”
Any Last Words?
“When you live a routine life, you cannot breathe. It’s hectic. One needs a parallel reality in which to exist, something solely theirs. This is mine.”
Fun Fact
Begüm Khan isn’t the only brand out there celebrating insects. In fact, insect jewellery has long been a symbol of both status and identity, with the Ancient Egyptians immortalising the scarab, for example. However, unlike ancient Yucatán’s insect adornments of choice, Begüm Khan’s bugs aren’t alive, as you’ll be glad to hear.
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