Unique fashions by Turkish designers at Ilkiz Boutique

By Cynthia Nyman Engel

Love kept Turkish native Semiha Cantas in Canada, and her love of fashion led the stylish young women to open Ilkiz Boutique at 120 Clarence St. Ilkiz translates to both "pioneer" and "unique" and definitely lives up to its name. The Byward Market boutique, which opened in October, 1997, is the first of its kind in Canada and carries a well-priced, one-of-a-kind, unique women's fashions created by leading Turkish designers.

"Tourism is Turkey's first industry and fashion is its second," says Cantas. "The clothes I carry are beautiful, exclusive to Ottawa, in fact to North America, and they are very reasonably priced." Cantas knows fashion intimately. She grew up in the fashion business in Istanbul where her family owns one of the city's largest department stores. She regularly travels to Turkey to attend fashion shows and personally makes the selections for her exquisite line of clothing from the country's foremost fashion designers.

"Because I have direct access to the designers at my family's prices I'm able to omit the costs incurred by middleman, distributors, and showrooms," she explains. "That's how I can keep my prices down. And I'm very selective about what I buy. When I look at an item of clothing, I know immediately what size and build of woman will look best in it."

Ilkiz Boutique carries evening wear year round - bearing renowned Turkish labels like Polen, Alfa-Beta and Javelin; and elegant business suits and casual wear from Sabri Ozel, Bonart and Golden. Sizes range from 4-20. "The detailing on Turkish fashions is world-famous," say Cantas. "And we also carry a good selection of clothing in soft, romantic materials like silk because women like the way they feel in soft, flowing garments.

"Clothes should make a woman feel good about herself and, when appropriate, put her into a romantic mood," she says. "Quality fabrics and fine, unique detailing make all of the difference in how a woman looks and how she feels." Ilkiz Boutique is the number one stop for the discerning woman who knows the importance of quality and style play in making an exclusive fashion statement. The shop also carries and exclusive line of attractive scarves and unique costume jewelry from Turkey. The treasures to be discovered at Ilkiz Boutique are a Turkish delight for women in the fashion know.