Turkish premium streetwear label Les Benjamins has built up quite the impressive momentum throughout 2017, pushing the parameters on its global sphere of influence – from launching its debut womenswear collection for Spring 2018 to partaking in the Nike Air Max Month shortlisted designers competition. With its first global flagship store to open in mid-April 2018 in Akaretler in Istanbul, Turkey, founding designer Bünyamin Aydin surges his business to the next level. Now, the brand has announced its collaboration with Bloomingdale’s, and Vogue.me can reveal the exclusive first view of the shoot by photographer Creationsofla and stylist Cheb Moha.
Les Benjamins x Bloomingdale’s collection photographed by Creationsofla and styled by Cheb Moha. Exclusive for Vogue.me. Courtesy of Les Benjamins
The 27-piece capsule titled Les Benjamins x Bloomingdale’s will be exclusively available at Bloomingdale’s in Dubai and Kuwait and in a pop-up at Sole DXB for a short period throughout early December. Recall the old pearl of wisdom, “scarcity drives up demand.” So swap your heels for sneakers when darting to the shops on the December 7 launch date – this capsule will prove to ignite the brand’s cult following. “We have had a relationship with Bloomingdale’s for a few years now and are very supportive of each other’s progression. Therefore they organically asked me if I would be interested in doing a collaboration, which I didn’t have to think twice about,” Aydin tells Vogue. “I went straight to the drawing board and soon came up with a concept and we jumped right into production, which I really, really love!”
Les Benjamins x Bloomingdale’s collection photographed by Creationsofla and styled by Cheb Moha. Exclusive for Vogue.me. Courtesy of Les Benjamins
This is the region’s first luxury streetwear collaboration of its kind. Inspired by the two cities of LA and Dubai, the collection riffs on Aydin’s favorite area to explore – the bridge between Eastern and Western cultures. The two destinations are united in unisex key pieces that can easily transition from skate park to high society lunch if you get your premium accessories in perfect placement. The urbane, global citizens of the Middle East and beyond are the core customer for this capsule collection. “It’s definitely the hybrids that travel and enjoy both LA and Dubai,” Aydin reflects of his target audience. “Young creatives that do photography, fine art, or are in the music industry and simply live, enjoy, and appreciate all things creative.” The designer’s favorite key pieces from the collection? “The track jacket and track pants with the LAX and DXB logo patches,” Aydin tells Vogue.me. “It is minimal but also strongly reflects the message I wanted to deliver in my designs and throughout the entire collection.”
Les Benjamins x Bloomingdale’s collection photographed by Creationsofla and styled by Cheb Moha. Exclusive for Vogue.me. Courtesy of Les Benjamins
With Aydin’s foot on the pedal to up the ante at the house of Les Benjamins, you can certainly expect to hear and see more of this brand come next year. “Pitti Uomo has invited Les Benjamins to do a presentation in Florence on January 10 at Teatro Niccolini. I’m sure there will be lots more in the coming weeks and months!”
Les Benjamins at Sole DXB pop-up runs from December 7-9, then Bloomingdale’s Dubai on December 10, and Bloomingdale’s Kuwait from December 15. Prices starting from 375 AED/SAR.
Related read: Bunyamin Aydin talks to Vogue about his first foray into womenswear
