About

Deaf Couture C.I.C. was setup in August 2025 by Deaf fashion designer & seamstress Alina Koztepe – Director of Divine Couture London – following a fashion career which started in 2009.

Since 2015, Alina has been an active volunteer and advocate in her community in The City of London, offering various workshops. She has been recognized for her contributions, including receiving the Freedom of the City of London award.

Statement from Alina Koztepe:

“I have two passions in my life: The Arts and inclusion for all. Having faced many barriers in my own life, I want to remove those barriers for my community and help them come together to learn new skills and hopefully offer them enjoyment in a creative and safe environment.

I want to offer people who are Deaf a chance to learn new skills that could potentially give them a new hobby, build confidence, help with communication skills and expand their connections with others who have different backgrounds. There is a lot of loneliness and mental health struggles amongst the Deaf community, and I am passionate about art bringing people together to help combat these issues. Creative workshops give people a safe space to meet other people, practise mindfulness, and improve cognitive function. 

Over the past few years, I’ve been running workshops in my community where participants have learnt new skills, socialised and have grown in confidence. Since 2024, these workshops have culminated with a fashion show, showcasing the incredible designs created by our community members.”