Istanbul Boutiques By Bera Design
Beysa Yasar, co-founder of Bera design takes us to a shopping road trip to glamorous Istanbul!
One of the first shopping malls, Grand Bazaar is founded in 15th century in times of Sultan Mehmet. Emblematic for the Turkish culture, it immediately became a crucial trading and commercial point. Domes painted in blue, mazes crossing each other at various angles, intricate design, here you can loose yourself in colors by every step you take. Enchanting and atmospheric, it feels like entering in the spirit of “Aladdin and the magical lamp”.
In this heart of crafts and haggling, you can find beautifully made carpets, ceramics, natural soaps, footwear, clothing, leather goods, souvenirs, brooches, accessories, exotic coctail of spices, traditional cuisine etc. It is home to more than 4000 both antique and modern stores, one of which collabs with Bera design for the creation of bags collection. Moreover, it caters for clothes most of the actors of historical Turkish films.
Dazed by the picturesque architecture, infinity of shops and blinded by the light of gold, silver, copper and jewellery, take a cup of Turkish coffee and soak the atmosphere of this Eastern fairytale. For those of you who have a sweet tooth, do not forget to try Turkish delicacies such as baklava, lokum, tulumba etc.
Image courtesy of Istanbul Tourist Pass
Image courtesy of Barceló experiences
Clandestine and romantic, Cihangir & Çukurcuma Area is known for its old abandoned buildings, ancient alleys and unhidden Vintage stores with lovely cafes dotted in between,
Suleiman the Magnificent commissioned Mimar Sinan to build a wooden mosque in memory of his son Cihangir, so that it has one of the most precious views of the Bosphorus.
Cuddled in a 19th century house, Museum of Innocence is another eye-catching spot to explore. The writer Orhan Pamuk created it as a companion to his novel “Museum of innocence” to bring the love story of Kemal and Füsun to life. Both the museum and the tale give an insight to the upper-class Istanbul life from the 1970s to the early 2000s. As the museum website explains, the curated collection of more than thousand artefacts represents what the characters “used, wore, heard, saw, collected and dreamed of, all meticuously arranged in boxes and display cabinets”.
Of the most iconic items, the Box 68, 4213 presents the cigarette stubs smoken by Füsun that Kemal stole. Also, there are created objects such as a map of the forbidden zones where Kemal may not go in case he is reminded of Füsun.
“I wanted to collect and exhibit the 'real' objects of a fictional story in a museum and to write a novel based on these objects,” Pamuk explains.
Bizarre and individualistic, the museum has its own soul, puzzled by paraphernalia that Pamuk started to collect from the mid-1990s. Containing from Vintage relics to serendipidies, his concept refers to “distraction and consolation drawn from things“.
Image courtesy of Leigh Turner
Image courtesy of times travel
Images are courtesy of world-architects.com
Beymen Zorlu Center is a family-own conceptual and lifestyle store, which has more than 200 years of history. They offer everything you need and more, from accesible luxury woman-, men- and childenswear to cosmetic, home accessories, toys, technologies, sports and outdoor, outlet items to their own ready-to-wear collections.
The fresh turquois interiors, relief shiny celing and intricatly decorated facade and windows create a luxury, glitzy and sophisticated ambince you want enjoy every second in.
Groundbreaking and versatile, in 1987 implemented the idea of “Unconditional Customer Happiness” at a time when consumer rights were something unknown in Turkey. Also, in the early 1990s they gathered many worldwide luxury fashion brands under the same roof, which was uncommon until then.
Images courtesy of Homemade aromatherapy
Founded in 2012 by Asli Bilgin, her mission is to unveil the ancient practice of aromatherapy, and help for creating a harmonic fusion of the body and soul. Take your time, relax and clean your mindset with natural oils, rinsing cremes, hair care and more.
“The story of Homemade Aromaterapi began 20 years ago, when essential oils, the soul of plants, changed my life and inspired me to share their magic with others.”, Asli Bilgin.
Anisa Sojka Chunky and Flat Snake bracelets in Gold
One of the first shopping malls, Grand Bazaar is founded in 15th century in times of Sultan Mehmet. Emblematic for the Turkish culture, it immediately became a crucial trading and commercial point. Domes painted in blue, mazes crossing each other at various angles, intricate design, here you can loose yourself in colors by every step you take. Enchanting and atmospheric, it feels like entering in the spirit of “Aladdin and the magical lamp”.
In this heart of crafts and haggling, you can find beautifully made carpets, ceramics, natural soaps, footwear, clothing, leather goods, souvenirs, brooches, accessories, exotic coctail of spices, traditional cuisine etc. It is home to more than 4000 both antique and modern stores, one of which collabs with Bera design for the creation of bags collection. Moreover, it caters for clothes most of the actors of historical Turkish films.
Dazed by the picturesque architecture, infinity of shops and blinded by the light of gold, silver, copper and jewellery, take a cup of Turkish coffee and soak the atmosphere of this Eastern fairytale. For those of you who have a sweet tooth, do not forget to try Turkish delicacies such as baklava, lokum, tulumba etc.
Image courtesy of Istanbul Tourist Pass
Image courtesy of Barceló experiences
Cihangir & Çukurcuma Area
Clandestine and romantic, Cihangir & Çukurcuma Area is known for its old abandoned buildings, ancient alleys and unhidden Vintage stores with lovely cafes dotted in between,
Suleiman the Magnificent commissioned Mimar Sinan to build a wooden mosque in memory of his son Cihangir, so that it has one of the most precious views of the Bosphorus.
Cuddled in a 19th century house, Museum of Innocence is another eye-catching spot to explore. The writer Orhan Pamuk created it as a companion to his novel “Museum of innocence” to bring the love story of Kemal and Füsun to life. Both the museum and the tale give an insight to the upper-class Istanbul life from the 1970s to the early 2000s. As the museum website explains, the curated collection of more than thousand artefacts represents what the characters “used, wore, heard, saw, collected and dreamed of, all meticuously arranged in boxes and display cabinets”.
Of the most iconic items, the Box 68, 4213 presents the cigarette stubs smoken by Füsun that Kemal stole. Also, there are created objects such as a map of the forbidden zones where Kemal may not go in case he is reminded of Füsun.
“I wanted to collect and exhibit the 'real' objects of a fictional story in a museum and to write a novel based on these objects,” Pamuk explains.
Bizarre and individualistic, the museum has its own soul, puzzled by paraphernalia that Pamuk started to collect from the mid-1990s. Containing from Vintage relics to serendipidies, his concept refers to “distraction and consolation drawn from things“.
Image courtesy of Leigh Turner
Image courtesy of times travel
Beymen Zorlu Center
Images are courtesy of world-architects.com
Beymen Zorlu Center is a family-own conceptual and lifestyle store, which has more than 200 years of history. They offer everything you need and more, from accesible luxury woman-, men- and childenswear to cosmetic, home accessories, toys, technologies, sports and outdoor, outlet items to their own ready-to-wear collections.
The fresh turquois interiors, relief shiny celing and intricatly decorated facade and windows create a luxury, glitzy and sophisticated ambince you want enjoy every second in.
Groundbreaking and versatile, in 1987 implemented the idea of “Unconditional Customer Happiness” at a time when consumer rights were something unknown in Turkey. Also, in the early 1990s they gathered many worldwide luxury fashion brands under the same roof, which was uncommon until then.
Images courtesy of Homemade aromatherapy
Homemade aroma therapy
Founded in 2012 by Asli Bilgin, her mission is to unveil the ancient practice of aromatherapy, and help for creating a harmonic fusion of the body and soul. Take your time, relax and clean your mindset with natural oils, rinsing cremes, hair care and more.
“The story of Homemade Aromaterapi began 20 years ago, when essential oils, the soul of plants, changed my life and inspired me to share their magic with others.”, Asli Bilgin.
Anisa Sojka Chunky and Flat Snake bracelets in Gold
Written by Penka Slavova Dimitrova
Visit our Istanbul city page to know more about the boutiques there. If fashion is your religion, then read more articles on our journal page. Don’t forget to follow AiSPi on Instagram.
Share
Read more
In AiSPi's Bag: Why We Love These Pieces From Hayley Menzies
Hayley Menzies gives us a glimpse of the vintage of the future. If we had to describe Hayley Menzies' aesthetic in a few words, it would be fantasy, collector's mindset, and reference. Think of far...
Bridal Stylist Rashi M. Kapur Shares Her Take On The Modern Trousseau
Planning a wedding is no easy task, and bridal stylist Rashi M. Kapur knows that. From deciding the venue to creating a guest list, selecting a caterer to finding the perfect outfit, a brides to-do...