Photo: Søren Jepsen / thelocals.dk
Yasin Müjdeci is a free spirit who always searches for the new ways of discovery and learning while working in three controversial industries. Fashion, bar culture and film scene comes together in his mind and lets him to catch the highest waves while surfing in Berlin ‘ocean’. 11 years in Germany packed his backpack with different experiences and taught him the most important lesson: you have to trust on people and lean on their strength. “Why don’t you start believing that no matter what you have or haven’t done, that your best days are still out in front of you?” – rhetorically asks he and easily shares his story of running two, one of the most attractive places for tourists and local inhabitants in Berlin – bar Luzia and concept store Voo Store. Collecting all the artists, creative and knowledge based industries lovers under one roof is a dream of two brothers that recently produced a movie Sivas, nominated to get the Oscar for the Best Foreign-Language film in Turkey. “Please, do not call me a business guy, rather explorer who does the things that feels passionate about.” – insists he and we laugh about the awkward pauses that could be thought to be hilarious.
Photo: Rita Lino
Tell me, how did it happen you live in Berlin?
My aspiration was to get qualitative education in a field of political sciences, so I was looking for a place to study. In the beginning, there was a plan to study in Paris. At that time, my brother was living in Berlin and I came just to check the location, to feel the vibe and get to know the story of a city. I loved it: culture, society, lifestyle, multicolor environment, melting pot. It is completely different from the whole Germany in its spirit and soul. Free, wild, rebellious. The time was passing and I did not want to move out anymore. At the same time I was struggling with the language, which was necessary to learn in order to get a place at university. It took me two years until finally I reached the level required for studies. There was an irresistible fight between my attitude about German language and need to learn it as fast as it is possible.
In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn, right? It seems now you feel completely familiar with Berliners: speaking German, knowing the city and market here. Can you envision yourself living in another city?
Totally. Every winter I dream about a place which has a brighter sky and sun appears more frequently than here. If I need to pick up just one place, it would be hard. I like absolutely different places because of various aspects: some of them have a charm in architecture and atmosphere, some are more than great in weather. Copenhagen and Milan are fabulous cities, very different but in some cases greatly connected. To my mind, Milan is Mediterranean Copenhagen: it has comfortable feeling, far from noisy Italian culture, but still full of passion. Tokyo could be my place as well. It is like origami city folded over and over.
Photo: Rita Lino
Photo: Rita Lino
You and your brother have opened and still own two one of the most attractive places for tourists and local inhabitants in Berlin – bar Luzia and concept store Voo Store. How you would describe your job?
My brother is an artist, film director, so we both work in three spheres: fashion, bar culture and art – film industry. Just like a triangle: Voo Store, Luzia and film production company. At the time being my brother is more concentrated on a film scene: our movie Sivas was selected to compete for the Golden Lion at the 71st Venice International Film Festival. It won the Special Jury Prize in Italy and now is nominated to get the Oscar for Best Foreign-Language film in Turkey. In order to reach the high results, you need to work hard and have a great team which you can trust. In this case, I would call myself controller multitasker. Don’t get me wrong, it is not straight related with my personality to control or keep a power in my hands, just work. Try to imagine having 50 employees that have very different tasks and positions in two different businesses. You see, it could be a huge mess and that is why I need to control each corner.
Photo: Søren Jepsen / thelocals.dk
Photo: Søren Jepsen / thelocals.dk
As a business owner, what are the most notable differences between running Luzia and Voo Store?
Let me tell you a story: Voo Store was “born” just because of Luzia. In the beginning we opened a bar in Kreuzberg and it became super successful: always full of people that come either to sip a coffee or meet up for a glass of beer with friends after work. Always crowded, noisy and charming. It is a place where you can learn about the people just by watching their behavior, way of communicating and acting in a group. School of people – sounds funny, but it is true and it totally reflects my personality.
Sometimes I ask myself how it is possible to read person as a book and figure out so much because of the external reasons. Fashion has a close connection with a reflection of the attitude, values, perception and inner thoughts. Each detail transmits a word which comes to a sentence, paragraph, story of a person if you eager to read.
When we came up with an idea to open Voo Store in a backyard nobody believed in us. Somehow we felt that it is a right place and right time to do that – to collect all the artists, architects, creatives to one place to network and expand their limits.
Photo: Søren Jepsen / thelocals.dk
What’s in the cards for you the coming months? Any new ideas up your sleeve?
We always look for the new ways of presenting Voo Store and expanding the target market. Berlin Fashion Week is coming soon together with some new projects as well as online shop is about to be re-launched. I do not want to follow the way others do. Rather always vote for novelties and creative solutions. What I seek is to show that online business has a lot of not adopted opportunities and ways of approaching the customers.
What’s something you’ve learned as you’ve started to run these two popular spaces that’s surprised you? What are the most pleasant and the most difficult aspects?
I feel surprised everyday: I live and discover. Please, do not call me a business guy, rather explorer who does the things that feels passionate about. Each day gives me some new lessons that I take for granted and that’s why I never get bored. The key to success is love. Love for the field you work at. Love for the team you work with. Love for the place you are located. Love for the discoveries and loss, which bring diversity and dynamics.
Photo: Rita Lino
What are the ways you get rid off the issues at work, and find yourself relaxed?
Sincerely I do not have as much time, as I would love to have to let myself to discover more. I live in a place that has all the world in one single path full of exploration, and I hope one day to dive deeper. By the way, I dive, but physically while swimming in a pool – it is one of the ways of relaxation. I love football to take out the emotions and feelings. It is a legal fight and I love competing. To my mind, we all strive every day: in a street, in metro, at the office, in a coffee shop, living daily routine. I am a soldier, but I fight in a cold war: writing the emails, having the phone calls.
Photo: Rita Lino
