Fashion / FeatureMeet the streetwear label at the heart of creative IstanbulWith sexed-up leather and satirical graphics, Les Benjamins gives the rest of the world a lesson in escaping sportswear cliches for AW15ShareLink copied ✔️November 25, 2015FashionFeatureTextClaire Marie HealyPhotographyAmy GwatkinStylingElizabeth Fraser-BellLes Benjamins AW15 Taken from the autumn/winter 2015 issue of Dazed: Les Benjamins is creating a new world order for Istanbul’s community of creatives. But in 2015, it’s as much about the world switching on to Istanbul as it is about how young Turks are representing worldwide. This season, the label rebelled against streetwear conformity and took things to the dark side: leather was the second skin of choice, with boys wearing Matrix-esque coats over futuristic sweatshirts and the brand’s signature satirical graphics. For the girls, demure pinafores were sexed up with embossed leather and rebel-inked lips – think the girl gang in The Craft, but scrubbed of any 90s nostalgia. For founder and creative director Bunyamin Aydin, Les Benjamins escapes sportswear cliches through the culture clash of its home city and its roots in Ottoman culture. “You need to be yourself,” he says, citing the inauthenticity of brands that deny their eastern roots in favour of western fashion capitals. “I could have done a catwalk in Paris, but it’s cool to do it from Istanbul. I want the city to see this.” Subscribe to Dazed magazine here or pick up your copy from newsstands now All clothes by Les Benjamins AW15Hair Maki Tanaka using Bumble and bumble; make-up Nobuko Maekawa using Sisley Skincare and Cosmetics; model Phoebe Collings-James at Eleventen; photographic assistant Lee Whittaker; fashion assistant Ioana Ivan; hair assistant Tracy Grabs Escape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy Expand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.READ MOREMoncler is coming for summer with its line of little puffs Nike Nike’s ‘wild card’ Team Kits are already in actionThis Dutch designer’s ‘gay fantasy’ is full of farmers, pirates and sailors Nike Airmaxxing with singer-songwriter Simone RuthRosalía is my religion: Sacred street style from Lux Tour BarcelonaOakley Oakley’s new collection was designed to weather the storm Nike Airmaxxing with multidisciplinary creative Jake EliasThe best fashion exhibitions to see for spring 2026All the best dressed stars at Coachella 2026 Nike Airmaxxing with New York designer Annie Lian PumaPUMA and Jil Sander keep it simple with the K-Street Labubu obituary: Rot in hell you ugly little freaksEscape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy