The Homecoming

For the Turkish-German founder of streetwear label Les Benjamins, its new Istanbul flagship is an emotionally resonant space

Iwas raised in Germany but am of Turkish descent, the idea of belonging to two different cultures and trying to balance them is something I’ve been working on since childhood,” says Les Benjamins’ creative director Bunyamin Aydin. This exploration of identity led the designer to a heightened sense of individuality, which ultimately informed the vision of his brand.

Now, almost a decade after launching Les Benjamins – and gaining success around the globe with his bold, bright take on streetwear – the designer has engineered a homecoming of sorts, with a new flagship in Istanbul, a city that has long been a crossroads between Europe and Asia. “Our internal slogan is ‘Modern East’,” Aydin explains. “Growing up abroad gave me western tools, which I’m using to modernise my roots from the East, through the lens of fashion.” It is a bold manifesto, which comes to life in the sprawling four-storey building in the city’s Bağdat neighbourhood.

The sense of duality that has amassed Les Benjamins a cult following (including Rita Ora and Jay Z), is evident in how Aydin and his long-term collaborator, Dong-Ping Wong of New York design firm Food (who also worked on the brand’s Dubai store), have curated the visitor experience. “We wanted the first floor and exterior to have a strong contrast, that is why we used the stone facade that gives it a rougher look,” says Aydin, a fan of brutalism. The warmth of honed stone and rough plaster on the ground floor provides the perfect counterfoil for a more modernist vibe above, where a monumental, curved steel display table doubles up as a spatial device and a decorative feature.

Plush carpet, its colour a luscious mix of burgundy and plum, grounds the space, and minimal metal display shelves allow the products to hold court. Les Benjamins’ key collections (and Turkish influences in the trial rooms) are balanced with a slick selection from global brands including Nike, North Face, Y-3 and Adidas. Bespoke design pieces such as a vinyl player and speakers designed by New Yorker Devon Ojas, further underline Aydin’s quest to build a creative community without borders.

“For me, this is so much more than just a flagship,” he explains. “It feels like home. Soon, my studio and atelier will be on top, so it’s going to create a very different feeling for me. I’m excited to start this new chapter.” lesbenjamins.com

ABOVE: A huge steel display table snakes through the store. TOP RIGHT: Bunyamin Aydin surveys the Istanbul cityscape. “This is where everything began for Les Benjamins,” he says.