Organising a fashion shoot on location in rural Turkey with Duo Lingo Turkish Level 1 skills and few contacts was the ultimate test.

It was simply extraordinary what happened next!

It’s a long story that led me from Australia to Faralya in Turkey – arguably my favourite place in the world and where I spend a few blissful months every year.  Faralya is on the Aegean Sea in Turkey near Fethiye and Oludeniz. 
I dont speak Turkish yet and I don't know many people either. 
How on earth do I pull off a fashion shoot, let alone one on location?  

I found a local photography company in Fethiye from Instagram and set up a meeting. I loved their feed and thought it was highly skilled and artistic.

They were a husband and wife team and we communicated through google translate. It was hilarious but we understood each other. 

It's amazing how creating a vision can be felt.
Despite the clumsy language between us, I knew they felt it.

Already, I had a good feeling about this shoot. 
First random pick of support -big tick! 

_{This is Fatih the photographer capturing some images of the extraordinary Butterfly Valley.   instagram.com/fatihyilmazphoto/}

I walked everywhere and found a hidden valley where the famous hiking track called The Lykian Way passed through. Red and yellow painted marks on rocks indicate the track.  For 500 miles it hugs the coast of the Mediterranean but surely this section must be the most treacherous part as it skirts Butterfly Valley with its ancient escarpment.
I scouted for days with my dodgy knee protesting at every step but found this most exquisite and secret landscape. 

It even had abandoned bee hives - my brand symbol is the bee- all the signs were pointing to this being the place. 

_{Here is Sukrun the photographer sitting on the beehives.  
https://www.instagram.com/fatihyilmazphoto/}

This is the hidden side of Butterfly Valley or Kelebekler Vadisi near Oludeniz in Mugla Province Turkey.  There are so many beautiful landscapes to choose from in this one square kilometre - it is a photographer's dream.  It is also near where I live.  Easy choice! More importantly, it reflected the essence of the handbag collection- easy going pieces that are perfect for travel and exploration- tough but elegant crossbody bags.

The Lykian Way winds its way throughout the valley with surreptitious markers of red and yellow on the rocks to show the way.

What could go wrong,,,,?

STORMS - that's what can go wrong.... they rolled in – day after day.

We had to postpone as the rain was torrential and accompanied by lightening.

We rescheduled for May 31 –with rain forecast - but I couldn’t delay it any further. I decided to take the risk. 

There are no fences, and the exquisite Butterfly Valley cove was a long long drop down the cliff. Ivanna took off her shoes and stepped onto the rocks above to take these shots. Lots of laughs with us saying - don't turn around!

Finally Shoot day arrived and we all met at the location.

The photographers were blown away by the beauty of the landscape and instantly understood the textures, light amd colours that drew me here. They took over and I was in their capable hands. What a relief!

My talented friend Nicolet joined me.  She speaks Turkish and English and was herself a former model.  But more importantly Nicolet is the ultimate Boss.  Together we could pull this off!

Meanwhile I ate chocolate biscuits! Anxiety overload needed sugar! The weather was perfect with breaks of sunshine, a gentle cool wind, some mist rolling in and rain staying in the distance.

_{Only in Turkey: A herd of goats almost went through our wardrobe but they were successfully steered towards some fresh oak leaves!
Lykian Way hikers passed by and waved…}