Bloom in Darkness by Chala Toprak

I, Chala Toprak, started out as a fashion designer in my hometown of Istanbul, and after nine years craved a break from the fast pace and long nights. Swapping one metropolis for another, I found a home in Brooklyn in 2019, where I was curious to try a ceramics class. From the first moment working with clay, I knew it would become a permanent fixture in my life. Converting a corner of the apartment into a “Tiny Studio”, I found solace at the pottery wheel, every day happily discovering a liberty this art form provided. What started as a hobby quickly developed into something more as I found creative freedom and felt compelled to pursue ceramics full time. ‘Dear You’ was founded during the pandemic when I discovered that people appreciated and wanted to buy my porcelain pieces. Today I am the sole mind, hands and heart behind ‘Dear You’.