dovia — intuitive + curious creations
dovia is a personal project in more than one way. Its name is shaped from my own do from doganay and via from silvia. A quiet blend that reflects how closely each pieace is tied to my hands and my story. The brand was born during the pandemic, at a time when life slowed down and boredom finally had space again. With so much unexpected time to fill, I began exploring materials with my hands, away from the screen, and that's when dovia began to take shape.
In the early days, dovia started with hand-tufted rugs. Back then, the project was called rugsbysilvi. I bought a tufting gun and began to work with a clear vision in mind. I was exploring how color and texture could come together in bold, creative forms. And just like with any other hobby/craft I pursue, I didn't just want to be good at it, I wanted to dive deep and master it. Not long after, the first custom orders came in.
The medium was unfamiliar, the tool heavy and not entirely harmless. My ears were suffering from the noise, I had to wear a mask to avoid inhaling acrylic fibers, and there were obstacles everywhere. But I was determined to see what I was capable of. I was hooked, and I definitely wanted more.
After two years of noise, effort, patience, and small victories, my apartment had no space left for large frames, and the noise caused by my tufting machine wasn't very neighbor-friendly. So the rug chapter came to a gentle end. The story of rugs had said everything it needed to say. Later, when I began experimenting with sculptural objects made from papier-mâché and eventually discovered my vision for mirrors, the brand evolved as well, and that's when dovia came to life.
From raw form to final finish, every curve reflects a decision, and every surface holds a moment of experimentation. These mirrors don't just decorate a room; they add softness, movement, and a sense of crafted stillness to everyday spaces. You might stumble across a very wavy mirror in a pilates studio near you or at your friend's house, who likes to add a fancy pop of color to their interior.
I build the mirrors by stepping away from the screen into a sensory space where modeling speaks louder than pixels. There's a calm in returning to physical making. It's a gentle escape where my hands remember what they love to do and my eyes reconnect with shape, texture, and light.
From raw form to final finish, every curve reflects a decision, and every surface holds a moment of experimentation. These mirrors don't just decorate a room; they add softness, movement, and a sense of crafted stillness to everyday spaces. You might stumble across a very wavy mirror in a pilates studio near you or at your friend's house, who likes to add a fancy pop of color to their interior.
