#106: Ege Tutuncu - How to Collab with a Supermodel by Chucking a Package Over Her Fence | The Fashion Series

EntrepreneurshipFashionBusiness

Mar 10

Written By Samuel Donner

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Episode Description

Born in Turkey, Ege's flair for design led him to found the clothing brand TUTUNJ. Initially he started with nothing but a few designs in his head and the encouragement of some friends. Since then, TUTUNJ has seen its products donned and praised by superstar models Meredith Mikelson and Alessandra Ambrósio. However, what makes Ege’s story truly inspiring are not only the victories he celebrated but also the challenges he braved. Along his journey, Ege faced an inordinate number of “No’s” compared to “Yes’s”. He grappled with the rejection of a big-time investor in the early days of TUTUNJ. He received one decline after another when seeking influencers to help promote his brand. Though these obstacles might have broken anyone else’s spirit, they did not break Ege’s. Instead, he saw each “No” as an opportunity to simply try again and each “Maybe” as a reason to push himself harder. If there’s anything to be learned from Ege’s story, it is this: With time, patience, and endurance, success is never too far out of reach.

Show Notes

Escaping his Comfort Zone: Ege tests his entrepreneurial spirit at a young age in starting a tech website with his father. His pursuit of entrepreneurship later encouraged him to move from his hometown of Ankara, Turkey to Istanbul as a young adult.
Founding TUTUNJ: After founding his clothing brand TUTUNJ in a cramped college dorm, Ege tries to promote his business by pitching his products to influencers.
Perseverance Amidst Rejection: Ege learns the importance of moving on after a big-time investor declines to invest in his brand.
First Big Break: Despite having only 800 followers on Instagram, Ege manages to successfully pitch a collaboration to model Meredith Mikelson and her agent.
Gaining Trust, Gaining Value: After Meredith posts pictures of herself wearing TUTUNJ products, Ege’s brand gains international recognition.
Hustling Towards L.A.: Feeling increasingly divided between school and TUTUNJ, Ege decides to move to L.A., where he can fully commit himself to growing his business. But first, he needs to find the funds to make the move.
Exploring Every Avenue: Upon arriving in L.A., Ege seeks out notable influencers with whom he can collaborate to promote TUTUNJ. His ventures lead him to a close call with the Hadid sisters.
Second Big Break: Months after Ege sent a package of his products to supermodel Alessandra Ambrósio, she’s seen wearing them in paparazzi photos. That’s when Ege learns that money cannot compare with the feeling of success.
A Lesson on Trust and Ethics: Ege tells a story involving model Candice Swanepoel that challenged his trust and ethics as an entrepreneur.
Charting New Territory: Reflecting on his journey thus far, Ege concludes that while entrepreneurship can be lonely and far from straightforward, the excitement you get from following your passion is what makes it worth it.