Photo Meltem Özbek ©

A heavyweight in the textile mass market, and also in the bridal and eveningwear segment that attracts Swiss, German and French customers, Turkey remains a little-known player on the Fashion Week circuit. Yet a handful of names are managing to carve out a place on the international stage, including designer Meltem Özbek, whose work is now showcased from Milan to Dubai. Meet the woman behind the brand.

By Sabah Kaddouri

You are known for feminine, structured and architectural creations. Pyramid shapes are among your signatures. Who is the woman behind Meltem Özbek?

Meltem Özbek: My eponymous label is a sophisticated and refined fashion house, built on more than a decade of experience. While favouring simplicity in its creations, the brand redefines elegance through subtle details, offering timeless, modern and powerful silhouettes that reflect a contemporary and multifaceted femininity. Architectural forms and structured silhouettes are at the heart of every collection; form is not merely an aesthetic choice, but also an expression of emotion and attitude.

The Meltem Özbek woman is strong, self-assured and carries an inner nobility. Her elegance is not based on ostentation, but on presence. She embodies a sophisticated, minimalist attitude. This architectural language highlights the strength and clarity of her identity. Building on this continuity, in 2015 the House’s work was promoted by the Turkish Leather Group in collaboration with L’Uomo Vogue, and presented on Piazza del Duomo in Milan. There was also London, where my creations were exhibited. Two defining experiences that earned me international recognition.

At what point in your personal story did you realize you were destined for fashion?

I can say that I grew up at the heart of art and fashion. My mother was a painter; my childhood unfolded in her studio, surrounded by the smell of oil paint and creative hands bringing canvases to life. She taught me to see the magic of colours, to understand nature, and above all to truly observe. Often, she would place an object in front of me and we would draw it together. It was not just about drawing, but about seeing and feeling. On our travels, we visited exhibitions in every city, and my connection with art deepened over time.

My grandmother was another very strong figure in my life. She had learned to sew at a very young age and worked as a seamstress, creating her own pieces. She made clothes for my mother when she was young, and the two of them would imagine new designs together. As a child, I entered this world by having outfits made for my dolls. Those two women laid the foundations of what I do today. One taught me to see, to understand colours and aesthetics; the other taught me to create, to work with material and form.

Moreover, although I earned a degree in International Relations from Istanbul Bilgi University, I continued in fashion until I won awards as a young designer. These key milestones helped shape my brand identity.

Izmir — where you come from — is no ordinary city in Turkey. It is a highly refined, forward-looking destination and the birthplace of illustrious figures such as Homer, Aristotle Onassis and Dario Moreno. How does this strong identity influence your work?

Izmir is not just a city to me; it is a state of mind. Throughout its history, it has welcomed diverse cultures and personalities, and its refinement is reflected in my design language. Growing up in Izmir was deeply inspiring. Being a coastal city shaped my relationship with nature at an early stage. Moreover, the role of women there is particularly strong: they are respected, free, confident and visible in social life. This culture has profoundly influenced my stance and my design vision.

The city’s slow but high-quality pace of life, as well as its effortless elegance, have shaped my aesthetic outlook. The balance between Western modernity and deep-rooted traditions is directly reflected in the way I connect past and present.

What does your country still need in order to shine on the haute couture and ready-to-wear calendar, and cease to be seen as a secondary destination in the sector?

In reality, the development of Fashion Week in Turkey rests on solid foundations. Since 2009, Fashion Weeks have been organised in Istanbul, and with Mercedes-Benz arriving in 2013, the event gained international visibility. The collections presented demonstrated the creativity of Turkish designers and the strength of the sector. I have been part of this momentum myself since 2014, presenting my collections each season.

The 2019–2020 pandemic, followed by economic difficulties and Mercedes-Benz’s withdrawal, slowed that momentum. Today, the main challenge is to ensure lasting support for designers and to strengthen their international representation. Turkey’s potential is immense; with the right strategies, it can gain greater visibility and influence.

Which markets are the most dynamic for you today?

Our brand is currently active in the Middle East market, with a strong presence in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Riyadh and Qatar. The architectural and sophisticated language of our creations resonates naturally in this region. We also generate sales in Panama, as well as through active points of sale in Turkey.

Which personalities do you dream of dressing, and why?

I would love to dress Cate Blanchett, whose presence and timeless elegance perfectly match the Meltem Özbek DNA. I would also love to dress Meryl Streep, whom my mother and I have admired for years. Her poise and chic resonate deeply with my vision. Zendaya is another figure I would love to dress, because she embodies a rare ability to carry strong silhouettes with modernity.

Finally, I would love to dress Anna Wintour, a true fashion icon. Seeing my creations worn by her would be one of the most meaningful moments of my career.

What are your next milestones?

In September 2025, we presented our SS26 collection in a showroom on Place Vendôme in Paris, meeting international buyers and successfully completing our sales process. This enabled us to acquire new clients in the Middle East market. At the end of January, we presented our autumn-winter 2026 collection in a showroom in Dubai, further expanding our presence into new markets.

Next season, we will once again present our collection in Paris, with the launch of the SS27 line. At the same time, our bag line is making a comeback with new designs, and we expect to complete this process within the next three months.

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