<h2 class="wp-block-heading">In this life, you either exist or become. We discuss about the role of being transparent with yourself in finding yourself in the Self-Made or Never Made series with Selin Şekerci.</h2>



“The best thing that people can do for themselves is spending time on their own. You find yourself when you spend time on your own. I have routines to find myself, such as having the same coffee, speaking to my best friend every morning and the books I read.” 



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-text-align-center">
&#8220;Sometimes, people dive into such depths that they question themselves and their worth. They even attempt to give up being themselves. If the other person is giving up on herself, we need to instill confidence when we see her in that state&#8221; 
<cite>-Selin Şekerci</cite></blockquote>



Singing shouldn’t be ignored because for Selin Şekerci, singing played an important role in finding herself. She adds: “Singing helped me discover a lot of new stuff about myself as well.” She considers the people around her as an important reference in order to understand and find herself. “I can’t understand anyone before understanding myself. The person we face becomes a mirror, if we look closely enough. In fact, looking at the other person means facing ourselves. Another issue that she cares about as much as finding herself is supporting the people around her in their journey of finding themselves. 



According to Selin Şekerci, it is not enough merely to be ourselves, we need to support those around us to be themselves as well. “Sometimes, people dive into such depths that they question themselves and their worth. They even attempt to give up being themselves. If the other person is giving up on herself, we need to instill confidence when we see her in that state.” 



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="982" height="1214" src="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2-2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-59998" srcset="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2-2.jpg 982w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2-2-360x445.jpg 360w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2-2-680x841.jpg 680w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2-2-16x20.jpg 16w" sizes="(max-width: 982px) 100vw, 982px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Selin wears a dress by MT1012 and boots by Manu Atelier. Her earrings are Ninon and rings are Terzihan.</figcaption></figure>
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According to Selin Şekerci, being oneself requires effort. And courage. “There are times in life when one can lose courage, but the feeling of love and trust helps you overcome everything. Only if you feel the love when you lose heart, everything becomes fine. You bloom again.”



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<iframe title="Spotify Embed: Self-Made or Never Made: Selin Şekerci" style="border-radius: 12px" width="100%" height="152" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/3tZ4mH9O367t7IRuWZQ6kP?utm_source=oembed"></iframe>
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Creative Direction by Duygu Bengi Hosted by&nbsp;Can Remzi Ergen Photographed by Ege İşlek Styled by Murat Kıvık



Hair by Mertcan Pekgüzek Make Up by Alper Kabadayı



Creative Team Ceydanur Demir, Şevval Küçüktür, Umutcan Öncü, Doğukan Özpıçak



Creative Production Miray Kaya



A big thanks to you Gözde Tekay, Serkan Aykut Kargacı and Zorlu PSM Team

Self-Made or Never Made: Selin Şekerci

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">In this life, you either exist or become. We discuss about the courage and determination you need to be yourself in the Self-Made or Never Made series with Onur Güvenatam.</h2>



Onur Güvenatam doesn’t accept excuses. For him, being one’s own requires determination and courage. “Actually we are who we are since birth, we both find and create ourselves. On the other hand, in order to do this, be his own person, one needs to be determined and be able to confront himself. If you can communicate your mistakes to yourself and accept who you are, then you are yourself. If you are good with the characteristics that make you who you are, then you are on the way to being yourself.” For Onur Güvenatam, this is a timeless path. It’s not a journey to be completed in a set period of time, its starting and ending times are not marked. There is no time but there are things you need to do; you have to be determined to set off on this journey even though you get afraid at times. 



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For Güvenatam, courage and determination are necessary in order to be yourself but not enough. There is one more action in this equation. Dreaming. He adds: “People also find themselves when they dream. When they realize their dreams, they feel confident, which is important in a person&#8217;s journey to becoming himself. Dreams keep people upright and dreaming should never end. 



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-text-align-center">
&#8220;If you can share your own mistakes with yourself and accept who you are, then you are truly yourself. When you embrace the qualities that define you, that&#8217;s when you are on the path to being yourself.&#8221; 
<cite>-Onur Güvenatam</cite></blockquote>



There are always other things you can do, other dreams you can dream. This journey has no end.” Güvenatam also advocates the importance of talent and persistence on the journey to being himself. “Talent is important but persistence is even more important. When you are determined, things transform. It is all about not giving up. You can face many challenges during your journey. Life will do its best to deter you at times. So what will you do?”



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<iframe title="Spotify Embed: Self-Made or Never Made: Onur Güvenatam" style="border-radius: 12px" width="100%" height="152" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/58kKjHGXfGNkrrYj2Y1OVR?si=2cb41e4262024bc3&#038;utm_source=oembed"></iframe>
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Creative Direction by Duygu Bengi Hosted by&nbsp;Can Remzi Ergen Photographed by Ege İşlek Styled by Murat Kıvık



Hair by Mertcan Pekgüzek Make Up by Alper Kabadayı



Creative Team Ceydanur Demir, Şevval Küçüktür, Umutcan Öncü, Doğukan Özpıçak



Creative Production Miray Kaya



A big thanks to you Gözde Tekay, Serkan Aykut Kargacı and Zorlu PSM Team

Self-Made or Never Made: Onur Güvenatam

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Creating, destroying, and then creating anew. This is what you feel when you meet with Jannik Wikkelsø Davidsen, the creative director of Han Kjøbenhavn. Han Kjøbenhavn stands out in the fashion world with its designs that are dark, atmospheric, mysterious, yet still bring out the precious emotions within. Initially established as an eyewear brand in 2008, Han Kjøbenhavn is now growing every day, extending its aesthetic from Beyoncé to Julia Fox. The presence of Han Kjøbenhavn is dark, atmospheric, and mysterious yet it stirs emotions that come to life where you somehow find the precious feelings within yourself. We continue to imagine unique narratives among the elements that Jannik designed, transcending the boundaries of fashion, inviting you to embark on a journey where creativity knows no limits.</h2>



How would you define creativity?



Jannik Wikkelsø Davidsen: It’s a personal thing, I would say for me, to me it&#8217;s like emotions shaped into something physical.&nbsp;



What does clothes mean to you?



Jannik Wikkelsø Davidsen: There are two levels, the obvious one; It’s a personal way of expression, yourself, but clothes for me is clothing again, it&#8217;s a shape of execution, of execution art, push boundaries and emotions.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-text-align-center">
“I like to build my own bubble, my own world, and then invite people into what I create.”
<cite>-Jannik Wikkelsø Davidsen</cite></blockquote>



How do you feel about the term ‘muse’?



Jannik Wikkelsø Davidsen: I don&#8217;t like it at all. I don&#8217;t like it. I don&#8217;t use it. I see a lot of people using muse word here and there. I mean, I know that you can interpret it in different ways. But muse for me is picking up something which is not your own thing, right? So, you let yourself be inspired by somebody else or something. I think for me everything has to be personal, it has to come from within me. That&#8217;s why, I&#8217;m not a fan of that kind of way of thinking.



How do you bring the best of yourself?



Jannik Wikkelsø Davidsen: I think it&#8217;s something I&#8217;m born with it and I&#8217;m very rarely satisfied. I&#8217;m super miserable. No, I&#8217;m not. But I&#8217;m always somehow feel that I don&#8217;t like to stand still. I like to be on a constant move. I like to be in constant development. I like to be in a constant conflict. So, I think that&#8217;s kind of my fuel. That&#8217;s something within me. It&#8217;s not something that I take on me. It&#8217;s just something that lives within me. You either have it or you don&#8217;t, right? It&#8217;s very hard to get that learned and to get that forced into you. I mean, it&#8217;s something some of us don’t have, or some people are born with, and essentially, that becomes the path of the energy.



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You turn fantasy into reality in your designs. So, are you closer to reality or to fantasy?



Jannik Wikkelsø Davidsen: It&#8217;s a blend. I feel that in your design all the time. For me, it&#8217;s a blend, it&#8217;s a merge, so it&#8217;s a balance in between. It&#8217;s something that exists by itself. But what is important, though, for me is to create my own world, my own planet, my own space to exist in. Therefore, I don&#8217;t necessarily have to think or concern myself too much about what happens. In the industry of what is up and down right now, what tendency what I have to come from within. I like to build my own bubble, my own world, and then invite people into, to what I create.



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2414" height="2560" src="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DSCF9437-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-59859" srcset="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DSCF9437-1-scaled.jpg 2414w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DSCF9437-1-360x382.jpg 360w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DSCF9437-1-1024x1086.jpg 1024w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DSCF9437-1-680x721.jpg 680w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DSCF9437-1-1448x1536.jpg 1448w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DSCF9437-1-1931x2048.jpg 1931w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DSCF9437-1-16x17.jpg 16w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DSCF9437-1-1200x1273.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 2414px) 100vw, 2414px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Courtesy&nbsp;of Jannik Wikkelsø Davidsen.</figcaption></figure>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1080" height="1300" src="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/382690035_692332855744093_8422781287333728953_n.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-59867" srcset="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/382690035_692332855744093_8422781287333728953_n.jpg 1080w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/382690035_692332855744093_8422781287333728953_n-360x433.jpg 360w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/382690035_692332855744093_8422781287333728953_n-1024x1233.jpg 1024w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/382690035_692332855744093_8422781287333728953_n-680x819.jpg 680w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/382690035_692332855744093_8422781287333728953_n-16x19.jpg 16w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" /></figure>
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What are the characteristics of Han Kjøbenhavn for you?



Jannik Wikkelsø Davidsen: Emotions, conflict, being very important, texture, layers. These are the key elements in the way I think.&nbsp;



In a constantly evolving fashion landscape, how does Han Kjøbenhavn stay true to its values and continue to evolve with the changing times?



Jannik Wikkelsø Davidsen: I think that&#8217;s the only way to. I cannot imitate something I&#8217;m not. I cannot force myself to adapt. I have to be the procreation that people follow. So, that&#8217;s the only way I know how to do stuff. So, it&#8217;s not something that I think too much about. I just create from. Like personal raw emotions and hopefully that&#8217;s enough to inspire people and have a tendency to embrace what you&#8217;re doing. I don&#8217;t know if I mentioned that before in terms of how I design; I think emotions are important. You have to create something that makes people feel right. That&#8217;s pretty basic. Make people feel that&#8217;s essential in what we&#8217;re doing. I don&#8217;t want to tell people what I&#8217;m trying to say. I think fashion, art, whatever you do, I create something, I show it to you, and then I cannot dictate how you feel. It’s a raw emotion and it doesn&#8217;t matter what I try to tell you, because either you connect or you don&#8217;t. So, that&#8217;s very important for me to have that mentality.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-text-align-center">
&#8220;I cannot imitate something I&#8217;m not. I cannot force myself to adapt&#8230; It has to come from personal raw emotions.”
<cite>-Jannik Wikkelsø Davidsen</cite></blockquote>



Can you discuss how the concept of &#8216;identity&#8217; plays a role in your creative process and influences your collections?



Jannik Wikkelsø Davidsen: Everything is liquid for me. A human is a human. I respect the human shape across the borders, and I&#8217;ve always thought and designed like that. I think too many designers react to what&#8217;s up and what&#8217;s modern in time. I&#8217;ve always designed the way I have been designing, and I&#8217;ve always respected the human being and the body, no matter what shape of thought it comes into. In that sense, my process and my way of thinking has always been the same, to respect each human being equally.



That is the part of how I work, how I think. For me, I don&#8217;t pay too much attention to what it right and what is wrong. This is how we do it and this is I have always done it. If you look at my work and I&#8217;ve always worked like this. This is also why I think that people who knows and follow fashion or my work has seen that for a long time. That is just an integrated way of how I think. I don&#8217;t like to use it a cultural trick or anything. I think it has to be honest and come from within. There are too many brains who reacts in terms of what the industry or what the world tells you to react at that moment, and it just becomes hollow. I know that the audience and the consumer is smart, therefore, you have to be and stay true to who you are.&nbsp;



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1536" src="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DSCF0225-1024x1536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-59863" srcset="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DSCF0225-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DSCF0225-360x540.jpg 360w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DSCF0225-680x1020.jpg 680w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DSCF0225-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DSCF0225-16x24.jpg 16w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DSCF0225-1200x1800.jpg 1200w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DSCF0225-scaled.jpg 1707w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Courtesy&nbsp;of Jannik Wikkelsø Davidsen.</figcaption></figure>
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Han Kjøbenhavn has been described as &#8216;arcane.&#8217; Could you elaborate on how historical elements find their way into your designs and storytelling?



Jannik Wikkelsø Davidsen:&nbsp;Regarding human beings, creativity, and everything. I like to peel off layers. I like depth. I like a bit of mystery to everything or else there&#8217;s nothing in it. I like to take people on an emotional journey. So, it makes sense in terms of how I design and inside of the elements. I don&#8217;t have any forced elements into the way I design. Everything is an organic evolution of the way I think and the way I feel. Then, I pick and choose from my brain in terms of how I integrate that into my expression.



What are you manifesting at the moment?



Jannik Wikkelsø Davidsen:&nbsp;I don&#8217;t do that. What I do right now is what I&#8217;ve always done. There are two things that signifies what I do is; one of them is that I&#8217;m always hungry for more. I&#8217;m always restless in my brain and my soul, so I have a huge hunger to keep creating, keep like pushing for new paths. Another thing that is a constantly the way I design, if you look at my work, you have to look at like a book with 50 chapters. We’re in chapters 5 to 6. Essentially, I&#8217;m telling a long story, and the shows and what I create are just part of that story. When we look back at my work from twenty years from now, you will be able to see the continuation, and the relationship between each show. But I will still push it, so I always tell the story from a different angle.



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A thing that even you can be conceptual in what you create. You can have a specific DNA, but your DNA can never hinder your growth. A DNA for many brains, many designers become a problem because you&#8217;re so defined that a specific aesthetic. For me, DNA is liquid, and it has not a physical shape. It is inside of the brain and the emotions. The physical shape has to evolve and change. That&#8217;s how I create and design.&nbsp;

peeling off the layers

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Phptpgraphed &amp; Styled by Sveta Kare



Mask&#8217;s Form by Alexey Gromov



Models Fiorella represented by Moon Models Istanbul, 



Eirill DeLonge represented by Starlet Model Agency,



Bulut represented by Eylem the Casting Killer,



Song represented by Tanks Management

A Zealous Pilgrimage to Thee

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">In this world where time flies vanishingly, we realize that every split second is precious. For Miro Gerede Erkaya, time is so precious as it cannot be taken back. Defining every moment as a treasure, Gerede considers it a lifestyle to experience time to its fullest and illuminate every day with new learnings. While she emphasizes that the secret to success in everything she does is to be disciplined and have routines, she is also nourished by powerful stories from the past in her journey of continuous self-improvement in all areas of life.</h2>



What is the most important moment in your journey to finding yourself?



I had so many moments but I can’t say that I have arrived at my destination, it is a long journey and I’m just at the beginning.



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What&#8217;s the best advice you&#8217;ve ever received about life?



Learning how precious time is. I try to live every moment to the fullest, I take in new knowledge each day, I never waste my time because it never comes back. Time passes very quickly and unfortunately some people aren’t aware of it.



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&#8220;Inside an equation where you race against time, constantly improving yourself and getting to know yourself as you advance without compromising your routines; upholding yourself primarily despite everything is making peace with every nuance that makes you who you are.&#8221; 
<cite>-Miro Gerede Erkaya</cite></blockquote>



If you were to offer advice, what would it be?



Being disciplined. I will explain this through sports because when you engage with sports regularly, your whole life gets in order. I think being disciplined is very important. You need to know how to say no.



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How is it possible to uphold yourself despite all the changes in life?



Being disciplined and having a routine is a must. Constantly improving yourself and getting to know yourself as you advance.



What does masculinity mean to you?



Inside an equation where you race against time, constantly improving yourself and getting to know yourself as you advance without compromising your routines; upholding yourself primarily despite everything is making peace with every nuance that makes you who you are.



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Talent&nbsp;Miro Gerede Erkaya Creative Direction &amp; Interview by Duygu Bengi Fashion Director&nbsp;Burak Sanuk Photographer Abdullah Yazıc Fashion Editor Umut Sımsıkı



Hair by Mutlu Ahmet Sinan Make Up by Bedirhan Aydın



Dop Celal Burak Özgül Gaffer Okan Ataş



Creative Team Ceydanur Demir, Murat Kıvık, Şevval Küçüktır Fashion Team Naz Paksoy, Tuğba Kır Photography Assistant Ramazan Şentürk

True Self: Miro Gerede Erkaya

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">We are with Mert Ramazan Demir. Cool, confident, and in control of his emotions. Although it seems normal to gather all these emotions together, they come from a place we have not been able to come across very often lately. While we all struggle to protect our individual space in the midst of chaos, being able to manage this like it’s nothing is the main reason why Mert is in our field of attraction.</h2>



Follow the <a href="https://youtu.be/j3VawvRmAVM" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">link for more.</a>



Cover Guest&nbsp;Mert Ramazan Demir Creative Direction &amp; Words by Duygu Bengi Fashion Director&nbsp;Burak Sanuk Filmed by Ergin Turunç



Hair &amp; Make Up by Zeynep Dombaycıoğlu Hair &amp; Make UpAssistants Seda Civic



Dop Celal Burak Özgü



Edited by Umutcan Öncü Gaffer Okan Ataş



Creative Team Ceydanur Demir, Şevval Küçüktır, Umutcan Öncü, Damlasu Demirtaş Fashion Team Murat Kıvık, Selena Tosun, Murat Şentürk, Naz Paksoy 



Gaffer Assistants Ali Şimşek, Arif Bilbay, Arda Seyrek, Orhan Sever, Cüneyt Kaya

self-possessed w/ Mert Ramazan Demir

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">In this life, you either exist or become. We discuss the role of our professional decisions in shaping our personalities in the Self-Made or Never Made series with Bora Akkaş.</h2>



“Being yourself means, being yourself. What we talk about here is in fact the state where you are unlike anybody else. Above all, an issue of originality. You definitely have traits that are similar to others, but we are talking about a state in which you did not choose these characteristics.” Bora Akkaş believes that originality requires self-confidence. He adds: “We can shy away from doing certain things because of other people’s opinions. In my opinion, being like everyone else is the most terrifying thing in life. If you are stuck among people who claim that black and navy blue do not look good together and you believe otherwise, you should be able to live in an environment where you are comfortable defending this. Self-love and self- confidence play very important roles in achieving this. 



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Bora Akkaş prefers to make use of this self-confidence with caution. He is quite mindful of his environment but he is also careful about measuring his impact on this environment every time. “I refrain from intervening in other people&#8217;s lives unless it is someone I am very close to.” However, he doesn’t avoid making small touches in the lives of those around him, so that they can get closer to themselves. “Sometimes recommending a theater play, movie or book can be a good way to remind people of themselves.&#8221; 



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&#8220;Being yourself means being yourself. What we talk about here is in facts the state where you are unlike anybody else. Above all, an issue of originality. You definitely have traits that are similar to others, but we are talking about a state in which you did not choose these characteristics.&#8221;
<cite>-Bora Akkaş</cite></blockquote>



According to Bora Akkaş, there is no fixed definition of being yourself. “What you call being yourself must constantly change. It&#8217;s an experience. Just like everything else, this changes as well.” Within this fluctuant definition, he is constantly making new deductions about himself both in his personal life and in his professional practice, and the issue of being himself is in constant flux: “While we were rehearsing the director said that I laugh when I get nervous. I sat down and contemplated for a while on why I laugh when I get nervous. A person knows and understands himself most of all by establishing relationships.”



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Creative Direction by Duygu Bengi Hosted by&nbsp;Can Remzi Ergen Photographed by Ege İşlek Styled by Murat Kıvık



Hair by Mertcan Pekgüzek Make Up by Alper Kabadayı



Creative Team Ceydanur Demir, Şevval Küçüktür, Umutcan Öncü, Doğukan Özpıçak



Creative Production Miray Kaya



A big thanks to you Gözde Tekay, Serkan Aykut Kargacı and Zorlu PSM Team.

Self-Made or Never Made: Bora Akkaş

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">This season, Les Benjamins presented a futuristic imagination of what the first lunar colony would look like. Bundled with expressions of Creative Director Bünyamin Aydin’s signature look towards the East, the collection showed us the possibilities of blending past and present, old and new, all in service of a collective future. Yet, this isn’t all Les Benjamins is imagining — under the helm of Aydin, the brand is expanding into East Asia, particularly Japan and Korea, with influences such as tabi split-toe shoes becoming a staple of new collections.&nbsp;</h2>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">We sat down with Bünyamin to learn about these synergies; how to imagine the East, how to think of the future, and most importantly, how to stay true to yourself.</h2>



Starting with you and your travels &#8211; lately, you&#8217;ve been visiting East Asia quite frequently, both for inspiration and for the brand. What&#8217;s the motivation behind this current venture to the so-called Far East?



My creative vision and inspirations actually come from the Near, Middle, and Far East. Japan has always been one of my favorite countries to visit. The traditional arts, crafts, and design philosophies have served as tools to inspire what Les Benjamins’ DNA is all about. I&#8217;m trying to defy the clichés of the East, but at the same time, I&#8217;m working to move our cultures forward. We recently did a pop-up store in Seoul, which made me so happy. I love bringing people together from different backgrounds.



On the subject of inspiration, what has been inspiring you lately? Where do you seek creative freedom and liberty?



Japanese attention to detail and their cultural approach of choosing to take their time to pay respect in what they are doing have been inspiring. When you innovate, unfortunately, you can also lose your values and the traditional tips and tricks that great-grandparents would have passed down to you. Archiving and passing knowledge from one generation to another is something we should do more of. I could write more, but the inspirations I get from Japan are countless.



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&#8220;Culture spreads and evolves in its own way. Nobody can control how something evolves in other places.&#8221;
<cite>-Bünyamin Aydın</cite></blockquote>



Your &#8216;First Wave&#8217; collection is about exploring boundaries beyond Earth, envisioning the inaugural colony from Earth on a lunar desert landscape. Quite similarly, the &#8216;East,&#8217; particularly the Middle East and East Asia, were once considered beyond the boundaries of this world—a hinterland so distant that only Western conquest could understand it. Was this overlap involved in your creative process?



They are always involved in all my collections. The Silk Road is a huge inspiration for our Les Benjamins design philosophy. Culture spreads and evolves in its own way. Nobody can control how something evolves in other places. This collection is a melting pot of the entire East, infused with futurism.



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Over time, the concept behind each of your collections becomes more complex, more thought-provoking. What is your process for imagining and dreaming up the story for each new season?



I always dream. Sometimes, I dream too much, and try to simplify my thoughts. It&#8217;s hard to translate ideas into garments. It&#8217;s even hard for me sometimes to express my full story. Some things are emotional. I think not being able to explain everything is cool too. It becomes unintentionally mysterious, and lots of people can make up their own story. Isn&#8217;t that art?



What&#8217;s next on your horizon? What&#8217;s the next big thing in your mind?



I want to be a father. In terms of Les Benjamins, it has grown to be bigger than I ever could have imagined. So, I&#8217;m very grateful for the love and support of our community. I&#8217;d love to open two stores in Japan, one in Tokyo and one in Kyoto. Let&#8217;s see what the future holds. We have some exciting global collaborations coming up in 2024.



Interview by Ethan Ekin Dinçer



Photographed by Abdullah Yazıc

Finding Your Global Self: Bünyamin Aydın

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">In our quest to search for the desire to learn and advance, we encounter Emir Elidemir, where he progresses step by step towards success in his adventure, in which he traces the passion to be the best and a quest for perfection while turning this into his life philosophy. For a closer discovery, we invite you to the world of Emir, who never runs low on determination and not once breaks away from his state of searching until he reaches the best.</h2>



What are your differentiating characteristics?&nbsp;



My desire to be the best in everything I do &#8211; I persistently search for myself and improve until I meet the best version of myself; and my appetite to learn new things.



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1539" src="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Emir-Elidemir-1024x1539.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-59581" srcset="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Emir-Elidemir-1024x1539.jpg 1024w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Emir-Elidemir-360x541.jpg 360w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Emir-Elidemir-680x1022.jpg 680w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Emir-Elidemir-1022x1536.jpg 1022w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Emir-Elidemir-16x24.jpg 16w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Emir-Elidemir.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">EMİR&nbsp;wears a leather trenchcoat by Armani &#8211; Beymen,&nbsp;a top by&nbsp;GENERATION 78,&nbsp;pants by&nbsp;Shopi Go, and shoes by&nbsp;Saint Laurent.&nbsp;His rings is Terzihan.</figcaption></figure>
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What is the most important moment in your journey to finding yourself?



Not the most important moment, but the most important process was working in Michelin star restaurants in New York, Lyon and Amsterdam. While working in a Michelin kitchen, you not only take your culinary skills to a very advanced level, but also find yourself in a unique discipline and ambitious work. All of these are vital to where I reached today with my career.



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&#8220;I persistently search for myself and improve until I meet the best version of myself.&#8221;
<cite>-Emir Elidemir</cite></blockquote>



What&#8217;s the best advice you&#8217;ve ever received about life?



&#8220;If you spend 1000 hours chopping onions, you will be the best at chopping onions.&#8221;&nbsp;



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If you were to offer advice, what would it be?



Quoting these words of Martin Luther King would be the best advice that can be offered to anyone: “If it falls on your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, like Shakespeare wrote poetry, like Beethoven composed music; sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say, &#8216;Here lived a great street sweeper.’&#8221;



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="𝓣𝓡𝓤𝓔 SELF w/ Emir Elidemir #basedistanbul #memyselfandi #emirelidemir #yslbeauty #MYSLF" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HS_JUtC3A3g?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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Talent&nbsp;Emir Elidemir Creative Direction &amp; Interview by Duygu Bengi Fashion Director&nbsp;Burak Sanuk Photographer Abdullah Yazıc Fashion Editor Umut Sımsıkı



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Hair by Mutlu Ahmet Sinan Make Up by Bedirhan Aydın



Dop Celal Burak Özgül Gaffer Okan Ataş



Creative Team Ceydanur Demir, Murat Kıvık, Şevval Küçüktır Fashion Team Naz Paksoy, Tuğba Kır Photography Assistant Ramazan Şentürk




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True Self: Emir Elidemir

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Life is much more than a dream, it is full of challenging stages that require you to rebuild yourself every now and again. You need to keep going without being defeated by yourself, be brave and commit passionately. “Everybody knows their inner giving up moments. I didn’t give up at those times, but stood up to challenges. Let the blows keep coming, I’ll endure because I am my own. This is the most comfortable place for me and I work really hard to build this house.” says Melike Şahin. She contemplates the storms she had to overcome in order to remain strong, and we dive deeper once again.</h2>



Follow the&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/y7myTVjHt14" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">link for more.</a>



Cover Guest&nbsp;Melike Şahin Creative Direction &amp; Interview by Duygu Bengi Fashion Director&nbsp;Burak Sanuk Photographed by Ergin Turunç



Hair &amp; Make Up by Zeynep Dombaycıoğlu Hair &amp; Make UpAssistants Burak Kuzgun



Dop Celal Burak Özgü



Edited by Umutcan Öncü Gaffer Okan Ataş



Creative Team Belgin Demirhan, Ceydanur Demir, Şevval Küçüktır, Umutcan Öncü, Damlasu Demirtaş Fashion Team Murat Kıvık, Selena Tosun, Murat Şentürk, Naz Paksoy Photography Assistants İzgi Yılmaz, Cihangir Erken 



Gaffer Assistants Ali Şimşek, Arif Bilbay, Arda Seyrek, Orhan Sever, Cüneyt Kaya

Try with all your might w/ Melike Şahin

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">As Mert Demir continues his journey through the depths of music, his perspective on his life goes beyond an ordinary passion. Perceiving change as growth with awareness and a representation of his respect to his individual self, Demir considers his work an adventure, and goes on with his life enjoying this adventure. While reclaiming each work he carried out as a part of this adventure, he takes us on a journey to the enchanting world of his music, along with his own remnants.&nbsp;</h2>



What do you think your strong traits are?



Mert:&nbsp;Patience, understanding, courage.



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1539" src="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mert-Demir-1024x1539.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-59578" srcset="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mert-Demir-1024x1539.jpg 1024w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mert-Demir-360x541.jpg 360w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mert-Demir-680x1022.jpg 680w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mert-Demir-1022x1536.jpg 1022w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mert-Demir-16x24.jpg 16w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mert-Demir.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">MERT&nbsp;wears a leather jacket and pants by&nbsp;GENERATION 78,&nbsp;a turtleneck by&nbsp;Vakko,&nbsp;and a belt by&nbsp;Miu Miu.</figcaption></figure>
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What are your differentiating characteristics?&nbsp;



Mert:&nbsp;It can be self-criticism. I don’t encounter that a lot around me. It is one of the most difficult things in the world for a person to admit that he has made a mistake and to look for new ways.



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&#8220;For me, upholding yourself does not mean staying all the time. Comprehending the change and living that adventure with awareness means upholding yourself.&#8221;
<cite>-Mert Demir</cite></blockquote>



What is the bravest thing that you’ve ever done for yourself?



Mert:&nbsp;Disrupting fearlessly. Every time I hit a dead end, I destroy the thing that bothers me the most in my life and send its energy away. These can be huge things sometimes. The greater the trouble I disrupt, the larger the space I open for breathing.



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How is it possible to uphold yourself despite all the changes in life?



Mert:&nbsp;Believing that everyone and everything, including you, has the possibility of changing. For me, upholding yourself does not mean staying the same all the time. Comprehending the change and living that adventure with awareness means upholding yourself.



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="𝓣𝓡𝓤𝓔 SELF w/ Mert Demir #basedistanbul #memyselfandi #mertdemir #yslbeauty #MYSLF" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9KIcSOLKcMI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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Talent&nbsp;Mert Demir Creative Direction &amp; Interview by Duygu Bengi Fashion Director&nbsp;Burak Sanuk Photographer Abdullah Yazıc Fashion Editor Umut Sımsıkı Make Up by Bedirhan Aydın



Dop Celal Burak Özgül Gaffer Okan Ataş



Creative Team Ceydanur Demir, Murat Kıvık, Şevval Küçüktır Fashion Team Naz Paksoy, Tuğba Kır Photography Assistant Ramazan Şentürk
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True Self: Mert Demir

To be creative in these lands brings with it an endless struggle.



It&#8217;s like an endless cycle where you often lose to yourself but keep getting stronger each time.



We often treat ourselves harshly, I know, and you know it, too.



So, let&#8217;s rewind; &#8220;This time, speak to yourself as you would to someone you love.&#8221; Perhaps then, the balance might change.



Me, myself, and I are alone.



And now, ask yourself: &#8220;If I am not there for myself, who will be?&#8221;



Are you ready to try all the possibilities?



When you get rid of the boundaries, the journey to building a unique sense of self goes parallel to life.



The meanings and importance that societies attribute to specific thoughts, behaviors, and images are awe-inspiring. But how and where did these come from? The real question starts here. When you delve into the concepts of perception and identity, you begin to bring yourself to a place that beyond the boundaries, and that&#8217;s when you get to know yourself. Prejudice is a common experience for all of us in some way. It&#8217;s like a mechanism that facilitates our circulation in the world. This is a shared experience of challenge, questioning, and marginalization. It brings with it the ability to discover the moments when you are yourself, to find the power to recreate every possibility, and to rebuild all possibilities.



Everything is just about being yourself.



You are the life itself, and it&#8217;s not about being accepted that makes you who you are. Exploring what you love, having self-confidence, being honest with yourself, and not being like everyone else. But most importantly, never giving up.



Passion makes the world go round. And passion, comes with excitement. In a life connected to these emotions, everything is possible.



I&#8217;m trying to talk to myself as I would talk to someone I love, and I’m reviewing all my possibilities.



To buy click it <a href="https://shop.basedistanbul.com">here.</a>

BASED ISTANBUL NO 42

To be creative in these lands brings with it an endless struggle.



It&#8217;s like an endless cycle where you often lose to yourself but keep getting stronger each time.



We often treat ourselves harshly, I know, and you know it, too.



So, let&#8217;s rewind; &#8220;This time, speak to yourself as you would to someone you love.&#8221; Perhaps then, the balance might change.



Me, myself, and I are alone.



And now, ask yourself: &#8220;If I am not there for myself, who will be?&#8221;



Are you ready to try all the possibilities?



When you get rid of the boundaries, the journey to building a unique sense of self goes parallel to life.



The meanings and importance that societies attribute to specific thoughts, behaviors, and images are awe-inspiring. But how and where did these come from? The real question starts here. When you delve into the concepts of perception and identity, you begin to bring yourself to a place that beyond the boundaries, and that&#8217;s when you get to know yourself. Prejudice is a common experience for all of us in some way. It&#8217;s like a mechanism that facilitates our circulation in the world. This is a shared experience of challenge, questioning, and marginalization. It brings with it the ability to discover the moments when you are yourself, to find the power to recreate every possibility, and to rebuild all possibilities.



Everything is just about being yourself.



You are the life itself, and it&#8217;s not about being accepted that makes you who you are. Exploring what you love, having self-confidence, being honest with yourself, and not being like everyone else. But most importantly, never giving up.



Passion makes the world go round. And passion, comes with excitement. In a life connected to these emotions, everything is possible.



I&#8217;m trying to talk to myself as I would talk to someone I love, and I’m reviewing all my possibilities.



To buy click it<a href="http://shop.basedistanbul.com"> here.</a>