About Us

“Moko Art Design is an independent jewelry brand founded and designed by Faruk Özcan in Kadıköy, Istanbul. Every piece produced since 2016 is built on a delicate balance of luxury, storytelling, and timeless aesthetics. The collections draw from a rich symbolism where art, history, and science intertwine.
Each design is part of a unique journey shaped by an admiration for iconic symbols."

 

 

Between 2005 and 2016, my path crossed with wonderful people in Istanbul’s famous Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest and largest jewelry markets in the world. In 2005, I started as an apprentice under an Armenian master. I spent about 3–4 years apprenticing in a diamond workshop, and afterwards, I worked with various diamond companies in the bazaar until 2016, progressing to journeyman and master status. I had what they call a “ground-up” career.

 

Tired of the ordinary designs and the exhausting commercial concerns of jewelry companies, I created an innovative jewelry brand under the name Moko Art Design, combining the traditional jewelry techniques I learned in the Grand Bazaar with my own interests in sculpture and carving.

 

In Moko Art Design, “Moko” is a type of camouflage that the Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand, apply to their faces before going out to hunt. Over time, this camouflage has become a permanent tattoo. The lines on the faces of the tribespeople increased according to their level of culture, hunting skills, special powers, knowledge, and number of children. Although humanity has tried to depict all the symbols it considered sacred and ultimate throughout history on different surfaces, these tattoos on the face—which expresses one’s feelings and thoughts through facial expressions and is the starting point of most physical communication—are the purest and most absolute evidence of an individual’s inner journey. Moko is a defense, a camouflage, Moko is an attack, to multiply and to perish, Moko is to be one with nature.

 

I bring my designs to life entirely by hand, blending the mystical stories offered by nature, the universe, and the great artists it has created into an ethnic pool.

 

Art and design are my interests. To satisfy my thirst for the pleasure provided by ethnic melodies, detailed paintings, lived experiences, and the instruments created to perceive my soul, I continue to pursue my curiosity in various branches of art. Along with this curiosity, I also create works in sculpture, music, and painting, but I only offer my jewelry for sale.

 

I try to combine the quiet intimacy and elegance of jewelry with the magic of storytelling; I try to advance through narratives born from myths, cultures, and both new and old stories, through universal and personal structures.

 

I pay great importance to perfect craftsmanship at every stage of production. I try to create timeless designs using high-quality and ethically sourced materials. I focus on the details that are vital in creating pieces that complement the user’s unique personal style. I believe that great jewelry should not only be beautiful, but also tell a story and evoke a sense of magic.

 

Since 2016, my designs have reached thousands of people. I am very happy for everyone I have been able to touch on this beautiful journey. Whether someone believes in a new story or a touch, I am very happy for all the souls who feel as if a part of me is traveling with them. I hope my designs find their soul in you...