Esquire’s regional designer of the year now has his very own space.
This week saw the opening of Les Benjamins first flagship store in Istanbul. The 3,320-square-foot space is located on Akkavak Street No.16, and boasts the best of the brand along with choice products selected by founder and creative director, Bunyamin Aydin.
Speaking at the launch, Aydin was keen to point out that this isn’t your regular store opening. Rather, it’s a place for fans of Les Benjamin’s to call home; “it’s a place of discovery, you don’t necessarily need to buy anything: you can simply educate yourself and learn about fashion, tech, design and entrepreneurship”. The new store will also host panel talks, workshops and events.
The store launches in tandem with Les Benjamins new logos, which is roughly based around that of a rangefinder camera. “I collect all sorts of cameras,” said Aydin at the opening, “and I’ve always felt that our creative direction at Les Benjamins has been rooted in culture, travel and outdoor photography… I see cultures through the lens of a camera,” According to Aydin, the flagship store aims to “”to capture the spirit of our multicultural universe and allow Istanbul’s youth to take part and evolve with it”.
The store itself was designed with help from environmental architecture studio Food New York, to reflect Aydin’s own dedication to culture and community.
