Photo Meltem Özbek ©

A heavyweight in Turkey’s mass textile industry — and in the bridal and eveningwear market that draws Swiss, German and French customers alike — the country’s Fashion Week scene remains little known. Yet a few names are managing to carve out an international presence, including designer Meltem Özbek, who showcases her work from Milan to Dubai. Meet the woman behind the label.

By Sabah Kaddouri

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

Meltem Özbek : My eponymous brand is a sophisticated and refined fashion label, built on more than a decade of experience. While favouring simplicity in its designs, 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 sit at the heart of every collection; shape 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 that trajectory, 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 understand that fashion was your destiny?

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 by 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 to art deepened over time.

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

Moreover, although I earned a degree in international relations from Bilgi University in Istanbul, 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 Turkish city. It is a highly refined, forward-looking destination that has given birth to illustrious figures such as Homer, Aristotle Onassis and Dario Moreno. How does that strong identity inform 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. The fact that it is a coastal city shaped my bond with nature from an early age. In addition, the role of women there is particularly strong: they are respected, free, self-confident and visible in social life. This culture has profoundly influenced my stance and my vision of design.

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

What is Turkey still missing if it wants to shine on the haute couture and ready-to-wear calendar, and no longer be seen as a secondary destination in this sector?

In reality, the development of Fashion Week in Turkey rests on solid foundations. Since 2009, Fashion Weeks have been held in Istanbul, and with the arrival of Mercedes-Benz in 2013, the event gained international visibility. The collections presented have demonstrated the creativity of Turkish designers and the strength of the sector. I have been part of this dynamic myself since 2014, presenting my collections every 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 are your most dynamic markets today?

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

Which personalities would you most like to dress, and why?

I would like to dress Cate Blanchett, whose presence and timeless elegance align perfectly with the Meltem Özbek DNA. I would also like 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 like to dress Anna Wintour, a true fashion icon. Seeing my creations worn by her would be one of the most meaningful moments of my journey.

What are your next highlights?

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

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

Find all our Interviews