The historic trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange hosted the Mor Cepken design at the “What Were You Wearing?” event organized against sexual violence targeting women. At the event, held as part of New York Fashion Week, Turkish scientist Canan Dağdeviren walked the runway, conveying the message that women deserve to be believed rather than blamed.
The piece worn by Dağdeviren is titled “Mor Cepken – The Purple Guard.” The event’s central message was that clothing can never be considered a justification for sexual violence or an indication of consent. In a statement after the event, Dağdeviren also stressed that women should not be blamed.
The cultural message conveyed by Mor Cepken
Mor Cepken is associated particularly with Yörük and Turkmen culture as a symbol of women’s solidarity and a call for help. In this tradition, the purple vest symbolizes a woman silently alerting those around her that she has experienced violence or severe injustice. The contemporary design transforms this meaning into a current and visible message against violence targeting women.
The design, created by İkbal Gülin Şenyuva Aktuğ, brings together textile and handicraft elements produced through the work of different artisans. Hatay purple raw silk, Denizli handwoven pink silk pestemal, Hereke silk, traditional needlework and suzani embroidery were among the design’s prominent elements.
A shared message against blaming women for their clothing
The event’s English title, “What Were You Wearing?”, is a critical reference to the question “What were you wearing?” directed at victims of sexual assault. In this context, Mor Cepken was presented as a symbol that makes cultural memory and women’s solidarity visible while challenging approaches that blame victims for their clothing.
Dağdeviren’s appearance on the runway, despite being known primarily for her scientific identity, brought together a message about cultural heritage and women’s rights at the same event. Known for her biomedical engineering and wearable technology work at the MIT Media Lab, Dağdeviren also contributed to reinterpreting Anatolian textile elements through contemporary design in a globally prominent center such as New York.
