Bünyamin Aydin discusses fashion and bringing Les Benjamins to the UAE
Les Benjamins, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, UAE
With a warm and modest presence, Bünyamin "Benji" Aydin takes the stage at Semi Permanent Middle East, wearing the classic designer choice of all black, with the exception of a Turkish carpet pattern bucket hat, no doubt a personal choice from his Istanbul-based brand, Les Benjamins. Commemorating the upcoming launch of the first Les Benjamin UAE store, the conversation kicks off with his unlikely foray into fashion.
Growing up in Germany, Aydin made individual pieces of clothing throughout high school, gifting them to his friends as nothing more than a hobby. Coming from a traditional Turkish household, he knew that fashion wasn't an obvious career choice: "I was afraid of studying fashion. When you come from a Middle Eastern family, you're always pushed to become a doctor or a businessman. I always had that pressure. It took me time to realize that I'm pretty good. I was rejecting myself."
It wasn't until university that Aydin decided to embrace his passion for design. During an advertising course, he was tasked with developing a personal brand. He recounts the day with a laugh, cringing as he talks about his professor who habitually smoked cigarettes in class. After presenting a conceptual version of Les Benjamin, his professor advised his classmates to take note, clearly seeing his explosive creative potential. That same day, Aydin decided to quit school and devote himself one hundred percent to fashion.
“In the creative field, we’re living through a time when everything is welcome. Weird is welcome.”
Ten years later, Les Benjamin is an international success, gracing Fashion Week runways in Milan and Paris and high-end department stores including Harvey Nichols and Saks 5th Avenue. His signature style incorporates Turkish carpet patterns with contemporary streetwear fashion. When asked about the inspiration for his unique take on the east-meets-west aesthetic, Aydin highlights his fascination with duality, combining opposites, and seeing the beauty of embracing different elements into one identity.
Using his signature pattern, Aydin has led many high-profile partnerships, including 2018's limited-edition Les Benjamin x Nike Air Force 1 collaboration. Continuing in sports, Les Benjamin was commissioned to design the uniform of Turkey's Olympic team for the Tokyo 2020 games. When drawing inspiration for the design, Aydin recalls talking directly to the athletes, noting their desire for both functionality and aesthetics. His approach would account for their individual sports, understanding how they run, jump, and move so the patterns would remain visible at all times.
Moving to Dubai in 2021, Aydin revealed his vision for the soon-to-open Les Benjamin UAE store at Mall of the Emirates. With an open dislike for commercial settings, his goal was to push the limits of traditional shops that are hyperfocused on sales. Working with his interior architect, he sees the upcoming Les Benjamin store as an experimental project with a desire to create a disruptive space. Among the racks of clothing and accessories, the store will cater to community and conversation, where patrons can slow down, talk, and participate in the store's experience.
It doesn't take long to see that this 32-year-old designer has a remarkable talent for breaking boundaries in a way that feels fresh and new amidst a sea of burgeoning talent across the globe. Prior to his guest appearance at Semi Permanent Middle East, Aydin sat down with Editor in Chief of Harper's Bazaar Arabia, Olivia Phillips, at the World of Fashion 2021 event at Mall of the Emirates. He discussed the importance of supporting an open, welcoming space for other creatives and his own dedication to mentorship. Aydin personally answers DMs on Instagram, sometimes spending hours with his responses, stemming from a philosophy of fostering talent and guiding aspiring artists. He believes that fashion is in constant evolution and that the next big name could come from a completely unexpected place: "In the creative field, we're living through a time when everything is welcome. Weird is welcome."