Duygu ATALAY ONUR

Duygu ATALAY ONUR is an Associate Professor and Department Head of Textile and Fashion Design at Beykent University's Faculty of Fine Arts. She concurrently serves as an Associate Professor at Işık University's Institute of Graduate Education in Fashion and Textile Design. Her academic career spans multiple institutions including Doğuş University (2018-2019), Istanbul Arel University (2010-2013), and Izmir University of Economics (2010-2013), where she contributed significantly to fashion and textile design education.

Her research centers on sustainable and ethical fashion systems, circular economy implementation, and the integration of traditional Turkish crafts with contemporary design. She investigates digital transformation impacts on sustainable fashion, advocates for collaborative design practices with rural craft communities, and examines cultural identity preservation through initiatives like the 1st National Needlework Workshop. Her work emphasizes intergenerational knowledge transfer and economic empowerment of underrepresented groups.

Analysis of her 2020-2025 publications reveals dominant themes: digitalization's role in sustainable fashion innovation, circular economy strategies across design levels, and craft-based educational models in developing economies. Her research consistently bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications in Turkish cultural contexts, highlighting tensions between ethical fashion claims and real-world implementation.

Scientific recognition includes:

• DHS Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity Strategic Research Grant (2022)
• 2nd in the Faculty, Izmir University of Economics, Faculty of Fine Arts and Design (2007)

Her grant-funded work supports collaborative projects with rural women cooperatives, particularly through the 1st National Needlework Workshop. This initiative connects designers with traditional Oya lace artisans to develop contemporary accessories, demonstrating her commitment to preserving intangible cultural heritage while fostering economic opportunities.

Through the 1st National Needlework Workshop, she cultivates partnerships between academic design programs and traditional craft communities, transforming heritage techniques like Oya lace into modern fashion products. These collaborations serve as living laboratories for sustainable design innovation while addressing challenges of cultural preservation in globalized markets.