Dressing the Soul: IKINITA
Some brands don’t just dress — they awaken, remind, and reimagine. IKINITA is one of them. Born from the shared vision of two sisters; India and Carla, the brand turns getting dressed into a ritual, identity into a narrative, and fashion into a deeply transformative experience. Inspired by film reels, sun-soaked summers, and the invisible weight of emotion, IKINITA pieces are made to be felt as much as worn. They don’t shout; they linger. They speak in whispers; to the skin, to the memory, to the self.
Let’s start with how your story came to be. How did IKINITA come to life? What inspired you to start the brand?
IKINITA was born from our shared love for transformation, turning the body into a story, the wearer into a hero. Fashion, for us, has never been just about clothing. It’s about identity, narrative, and presence. We grew up immersed in cinema; our father, a film director in the ’90s, sparked our passion for visual storytelling. His world shaped ours, a blend of timeless glamour and fearless creativity.
But everything shifted when one of our daughters was diagnosed with a condition that impacted her vision. That moment cracked open a new universe for us. We started exploring the senses beyond sight texture, sound, emotion and found beauty in the intimate rituals of dressing. IKINITA became a way to feel deeply, not just to be seen.
”We are sisters, creators, and survivors, and through IKINITA, we turn life’s beauty and struggle into something tangible.”
What do you think makes IKINITA’s design language stand out?
We design for women to become their own muses : bold, soft, powerful. We want each piece to hold a story, a mood, a truth. We don’t chase trends. Instead, we’re inspired by cinema, architecture, nature, and emotions. Our pieces are crafted with deep intention, a balance between art and wearability, elegance and freedom.
What’s the most fulfilling part of building a collection?
It’s the liberation from rules, from judgment, from expectations. Each collection begins with a feeling, a whisper, a visual we can’t shake. We let it sit, gather textures, words, memories and then we build something from it that feels like magic. It’s about storytelling through silhouette, material, and sensation.
What is the most challenging part?
Keeping the balance between fantasy and function. We want our pieces to feel like wearable art, but they also need to be lived in, to make the wearer feel confident, comfortable, sensual, and entirely themselves.
Your SS25 collection draws inspiration from childhood nostalgia, what’s your favorite childhood memory?
We grew up on a boat and summers in Turkey were some of our most defining moments. Bodrum, and especially Maçakızı, feels like part of our soul. Years later, one of us moved to Turkey. Returning there to open our store felt like a homecoming. We’ve always been drawn to places with depth, history, and energy, and Maçakızı has all of that.
“We want our pieces to evoke emotion, to help women feel bold, soft, rebellious, ethereal… whatever they need to be that day.”
Do you have a structured creative process or does it emerge more organically from mood, conversation or intuition?
Like a conversation: fluid, unpredictable, always full of surprises. We gather inspiration like detectives, let it rest, and then come back to create.
How do you balance two creative minds within one brand identity? What happens when you disagree?
There’s trust, respect, and rhythm between us. We grew up together, and that bond allows us to challenge each other while always staying connected to our shared vision.
What do you want someone to feel when they wear IKINITA — beyond aesthetics?
Liberation. Intuition. Power. We want our pieces to evoke emotion, to help women feel bold, soft, rebellious, ethereal… whatever they need to be that day. Wearing IKINITA is about stepping into your own narrative with confidence and grace.
Is there a fabric or technique in SS25 that you feel particularly connected to; personally or creatively?
We’re committed to sustainability not just in name, but in practice. Our garments are made in Europe using natural fabrics and leftover luxury materials from LVMH. We incorporate hand embroidery, build each piece like a puzzle, and put love into every stitch. It allows us to create affordable couture that’s beautiful, responsible, and entirely ours.
What kind of impact do you want IKINITA to have in the long run; culturally, emotionally or anything in-between?
We made a pact to honor our childhood dreams and bring them into adulthood with meaning. We want IKINITA to leave a cultural and emotional legacy. Through every garment, we aim to offer not just fashion, but an experience. A reminder to feel, to dream, to live boldly.
We are sisters, creators, and survivors, and through IKINITA, we turn life’s beauty and struggle into something tangible.
As designers, we aim to inspire women to embrace their unique strength and beauty. We believe in empowering them to become their own muse, crafting lives filled with confidence, creativity, and resilience.
