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How Nackiye brought Turkish fashion to the international stage – interview

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How Nackiye brought Turkish fashion to the international stage – interview

A melting pot and meeting point of cultures, Istanbul is a treasured tourist destination but remains an underrated, under-the-radar city for fashion. The Turkish capital boasts gorgeous Mediterranean weather, delicious food and rich cultural experiences, all of which inform the local designers who clamour for international attention without compromising on their cultural values.

Nackiye is one of the fresh new brands on the block introducing Turkish fashion to the world, and inspired by the country’s rich history and heritage. It was founded by sisters Basak and Defne Kocabiyikoglu, and named after their great-grandmother.

Nackiye is one of the fresh new brands introducing Turkish fashion to the world, including the pictured Sherif Crop Vest in black from their pre-fall 2024 collection

“Our connection to Istanbul has a lot to do with sensations,” Basak said during a recent visit to Hong Kong with Lane Crawford, which stocks the brand’s distinctly Mediterranean yet universally cosmopolitan pieces. “There’s the scenery, always attractive and mysterious. There’s the smell, which is very particular – you can smell the sea, the flowers, the trees in the springtime, so vibrant. And then there’s the sounds. The car horns, the people yelling, the children, the seagulls, the ferries.”

“There’s also this chaos – old, ruined buildings mixed with contemporary architecture,” Defne adds. “That also finds a place in our collection. Sometimes we don’t do pretty hemmings, we just do raw edges. This deconstructed, unfinished look also represents Istanbul.”

Basak nods. “If it wasn’t for the Turkish background, we wouldn’t have Nackiye because there’s everything, especially in fashion. There are so many brands and so many different points of view. If you don’t have your own personal signature and point of view, there’s no way to have a place.”

Nackiye’s Queens Guard cashmere wool scarves lend a personal signature to its whimsical line
Nackiye’s Queens Guard cashmere wool scarves lend a personal signature to its whimsical line

Nackiye’s personal signature can be found in every detail of its whimsical clothes – cashmere cardigans with large buttons, silk kaftans with bows and embellished blouses with billowy sleeves – all of which are an homage to the hard work the sisters have put into building the brand, which is in turn built on the lifelong labour of all the women who came before them. Mature yet youthful, dignified and joyful, the clothes embody what Basak describes as the sort of inner strength inherent to the Turkish spirit which can only arise from overcoming adversity.

Nackiye’s designs, like the Draped V-Neck Pin Top in black, are built on the Turkish spirit
Nackiye’s designs, like the Draped V-Neck Pin Top in black, are built on the Turkish spirit

“Turks love fun and they’re huge on humour – if they didn’t have humour, it would be so difficult for them to go through all of these things,” Basak says of the political and socio-economic turmoil Turkey has seen in recent years.

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