While it has been a year of big changes among the world’s major brands, it is the smaller breakout talents that caught our eye. With the premium streetwear trend only gaining strength in 2017, this year Turkish brand Les Benjamins has pushed the parameters of contemporary regional design into a global sphere of influence.
If any evidence was needed of a star on the rise, his collections have been flying off the shelves in Dubai. The cool kids will already know the name, and if you haven’t you better take note.
What does winning this award mean to you?
It’s one of the best moments of my life. It’s my first award but I want to accept it on behalf of the Turkish design community rather than just for me.
What can 2018 expect from you?
The projects and collaborations keep piling up! I will be showing a collection at Pitti Uomo in Florence, and then later in the year, I will be opening my first flagship store in Istanbul.
What excites you most about this region?
The culture. The GCC is becoming an important platform for designers, and what people like Esquire and Sole DXB are really giving it global significance and it is amazing to be part of it.
