Heaven’s Door: Nişantaşı–Teşvikiye

Now, more than ever, the one-of-a-kind, the unique, or, at least, the something in a limited edition—particularly, if it shows evidence that some thought and effort were put into it and bears a designer label—is in greater demand and valued more highly.

To offset the dreary flood of chain stores, why not stop off at some place where the spice of life—variety—and zest can be added to your shopping spree? The boutiques in and around Nişantaşı offer one of the finest shopping experiences in town.

Where to start? Wherever your heart is captured by some creation on display in a shop window and makes you cry out “That’s just what I want!” The selection is broad: haute couture by famous designers, limited edition T-shirts and bags, and vintage and alternative lifestyle clothes. Non-apparel items include fashion and design magazines and books, bibelots collected in Europe, gift merchandise, and much more.

Pag
A stop off for those attuned to design, Pag opened for business in April 2006.  Besides “Definition” T-shirts of their own design, the shop carries several British and German labels as well as designs by Baha Kutan. The T-shirts range in price from 50–80 YTL and pants are around 200 YTL.

Upstairs, books hard-to-find in Turkey on design, photography, illustration, and graphic design are available.

Address:  Ihlamur Road No: 19 Teşvikiye
Ph:  (9) 0212-233-7500

Vintage
We are all aware by now that the latest fashion trends have been turning to the past. Fashions of the ’40s, ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, and even the ’80s have been transported from yellowing old photographs to stage center in display windows.  All kinds of outfits and accessories from these eras are now in high demand and sold under the rubric “vintage.” Opened by model Ece Sükan in Nişantaşı in November 2006, Vintage is an excellent précis of this trend. Well-stocked with period originals and leading iconic designs accounts for its popularity among those seeking what was formerly quite inaccessible and unavailable.

Second-hand fashions bearing the labels of such designers as Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, and Valencia and accessories like bags, shoes, and eyeglasses are all one of a kind. Ece Sükan relates that Vintage, which is a “concept shop,” strongly appeals to those who view dressing as an art and one that affords them personal enjoyment.

The prices of items offered for sale at Vintage range between 100 and 2,000 YTL.

Address: Ahmet Fetgari Street/Kalıpçı Street, No: 152 Nişantaşı
Ph:  (9) 0212-233-5439

Hårbert Project
Dolls lined up against walls of purple announce that you have arrived at Hårbert Project, opened on 14 February 2007 on Şakayık Street. You might recall the name İrem Onar, a stylist consultant for Kenan Doğulu, Sanem Çelik, and Gamze Özçelik, from the shop in Türkbükü, Bodrum where her creations are sold.  Hårbert Project is perfect for those between 18 and 40 years who are looking for something different in jeans, shirts, sweatshirts, and dresses.

T-shirts are 40–80 YTL, the highest price for jeans is 160 YTL, and shirts cost around 100 YTL.

Address:  Şakayık Street, No: 18 Teşvikiye
Ph:  (9) 0212-240-5930–35

Canes
Canes has been in business for 28 years, and located for the past 11 years in the Reasürans Arcade. Shoes and bags are designed by Cemil Canyakmaz.  Specializing in evening wear, Canes caters to a wide range of clientele from artistic, political, and bureaucratic circles, including Sezen Aksu and Kezban Hatemi.

All the models are distinguished by the use of natural materials and high quality handiwork. In general, the merchandise is custom-made, but, in any case, the models are produced in limited editions. The current collections feature evening dress designs in lamé and gold.

Custom-made shoes range from 750–2,000 YTL while standard-size shoes cost 195–350 YTL.

Address:  Teşvikiye Avenue, 43/57 Reasürans Çarşısı No:57 Teşvikiye
Ph:  (9) 0212-240-2223

Nukha
A tenant on Şakayık Street since May 2006, Nukha primarily offers T-shirts and costume jewelry designed by Nükhet Hanım. The T-shirts are 100% cotton, with designs prepared using a water-based technique. In the words of Nükhet Hanım, her T-shirts “bring together different cultures and civilizations through designs and symbols characteristic of the Byzantine and Ottoman eras, of countries like Egypt and India, and of the continent of Africa. The designs represent friendship and peace and the interaction of and harmony between distant countries.”

The printed designs of Nukha T-shirts are simple, low-keyed, and congruent. One of the shirts would make an ideal gift for a friend abroad.  T-shirt prices range from 39–53 YTL. Reversible necklaces are 50 YTL.

Address:  Şakayık Street 28/A, Teşvikiye
Ph:  (9) 0212-240-3086

Closh
Opening its doors on Atiye Street in December 2006, Closh features designs by Serli Keçoğlu and Selvin Parunakyan. Offering designs in casual style evening dress, the shop attracts working women who also enjoy nightlife. Closh is noted for its meticulous selection of high quality fabrics. 

Tailor-made creations are available for all items, from shirts to skirts to hats.  Shirt prices range between 120–20 YTL and skirts 200–400 YTL.

Address: Atiye Street, No: 2  Teşvikiye
Ph:  (9) 0212-258-5756

Uff!
New on the block, Uff! opened for business in December 2006 with designs by Ufuk Spence, Pamela Spence’s mother. The outfits and costumes in retro but trendy colors derive their inspiration from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s.

Also carrying hats and shoes and menswear, Uff! limits the number of each creation and accessory to one or two specimens only. Tailor-made outfits can be ordered as well. The personally designed hats are spectacular.

Prices start at 70 YTL and range sup to 500 YTL.

Address:  Rumeli Avenue, No: 26–28/3 Huzur Apartment, Nişantaşı
Ph:  (9) 0212-231-5507

Elacindoruknazanpak
Ela Demir and Nazan Pak have been active in the design and manufacture of jewelry and costume jewelry since 1993. Displaying their creations in their store on the corner of Abdi Ipekçi Avenue since 1996, the designers fashion their works in the precious metals, silver and gold, with pearls and chemical elements like titanium, and niobium. They also create objects out of epoxy, polyester resin, and plexiglas. Manufacturing in limited quantity, the shop is ideal for those who want to feel special and desire something out of the ordinary.

Working with diverse materials, such as felt, beads, and paper, the designers display their creations in Elacindoruknazanpak and whose prices vary from 50 YTL to 5,000 YTL, depending on the material used and the workmanship intailed.

Address:  Abdi Ipekçi Avenue, No: 14 Atiye Street, Teşvikiye
Ph:  (9) 0212-219-6292

Ginger’s
Ginger’s is the shop for those wish to clothe their pets in handsome and attractive gear. Opening in October 2006, Ginger’s imports products from the U.S., Europe, and the Far East. Ginger’s has made numerous pet lovers very happy, because such items were previously unavailable in Turkey.

A wide selection of pet outfits, perfumes, necklaces, collars, barrettes, and hats are offered for sale as well as decorative accessories and bags that appeal to pet lovers. The outfits range in price from 20–80 YTL while the accessories cost between 10–40 YTL.

Address: Ihlamur Road, No: 10/1 Değer Apartment, Nişantaşı
Ph:  (9) 0212-296-5067

Pupa
Those looking for something unusual in the way of decorative pieces for the home make their way to Pupa, in business since 1995. Along with a selection of gift items, the shop also sells Belgian chocolates. The gift items are imports from Italy, Spain, and Britain as well as other European countries. Among the special and the few are bibelots, lampshades, picture frames, handmade decorative porcelain objects, pillows, clocks, and boxes.

Items are priced as low as 5 YTL for a knickknack and as high as 1,250 YTL for a Saxony chandelier from Naples.

Address:  10/1 Ihlamur Road, Nişantaşı
Ph:  (9) 0212-248-2023

Look Art Studio
Located on Şakayık Street for almost one year, Look Art Studio offers designs by Eda Baysal and Taçlan Görgün. Look Art Studio appeals to those who like designs exuding a spirit of the modern and the diverting. Taçlan Görgün describes the artifacts available at Look Art Studio as “applications of our graphic designs for home accessories and objects.” The unusual is exemplied by their versions of a bookshelf in the form of the DNA double helix and laptop bags.

Pictures range in price from 1,000–2,000 YTL, lamps are 100 YTL, and bags cost around 150 YTL.

Address:  Şakayık Street, 45/2 Durusoy Apartment, Nişantaşı
Ph:  (9) 0212-231-6488

Deca Neo
In business almost six years, Deca Neo sells internationally known interior decorator brand products, such as those by Moroso, Arclinea, Matteograssi, Foscarini, and Pedrali. Decoration and illumination systems for the kitchen, living room, and dining room as well as furnishing items like consoles and carpets and bathroom designs. The different floors of the store display side tables, lamps, and decorative objects in unusual designs.

Address:  Ahmet Fetgari Street, 152/9 Uzal Apartment, Teşvikiye
Ph:  (9) 0212-296-7711–12

Z-Mix
Designs by architects Zuhal Çınar and Zeynep Tanrıyakul are showcased at Z-Mix, in business roughly two years. The location houses both their office quarters and their showroom. The goods comprehend every object used for interior decorating from A–Z. The lamp and mirror creations are particularly nice.

The clientele of Z-Mix is composed of those seeking the out of the ordinary. No doubt, this accounts for the fact each item is singular—in quality as well as in number.  Z-Mix is happy to make custom designs and to alter the proportions and color of an item to suit individual taste.

Illumination artifacts range between 500–1,350 YTL, mirrors 800–1,300 YTL, side tables 1,500–1,800 YTL, and living room furniture 1,800–3,500 YTL.

Address: Valikonağı Avenue, 2/1 Akkavak Street, Apt. 1, Nişantaşı
Ph:  (9)0212-343-6801

In Istanbul
www.istanbul.com/Inistanbul