Taşdirek Çeşmesi Sokağı Sneaker

Taşdirek Çeşmesi Sokağı — Where a New Collection Began

In the historic Sultanahmet district, just a short walk from the Grand Bazaar, Taşdirek Çeşmesi Sokağı sits within a busy commercial neighborhood where Istanbul’s tradition of trade is still very much alive. The surrounding streets are filled with wholesalers dealing in a wide variety of Turkish goods, alongside small cafés and tucked-away spots that offer a glimpse of the city beyond its usual tourist routes.

This street holds a special place in my journey as a designer and collector. It is where I purchased many of the antique and vintage kilims that would become part of my upcoming boot collection, launching in November 2026. It is also where I found the very first rugs I bought for my original boot line.

Buying kilims to wear in your home is one thing. Choosing them to transform into boots is an entirely different experience. You begin to look at each rug through another lens, searching for the right combination of color, pattern, texture, and character. You have to imagine how a centuries-old design might translate onto the shape of a boot, which details will stand out, and how the patterns will come together once the textile is cut and reconstructed.

Every rug presents a new creative challenge. A pattern that looks beautiful spread across a floor might reveal something completely unexpected when transformed into footwear. The process requires an eye for detail, a willingness to experiment, and an appreciation for the history woven into each piece.

The wholesalers along these streets have become an important part of that creative journey. Here, antique and vintage textiles are not simply objects to admire; they are materials waiting for a new life. Each purchase carries the possibility of becoming something entirely different, while preserving a connection to the craftsmanship and traditions of the past.

Taşdirek Çeşmesi Sokağı represents the more entrepreneurial side of Istanbul — the city of merchants, makers, and unexpected discoveries. It is where the search for materials becomes part of the design process, and where an idea for a collection begins to take shape.

For me, this street will always be connected to the origins of my boot collections: the first rugs, the early experiments, and the excitement of imagining what these beautiful textiles could become.

Sometimes, the next great design begins with a rug that has already lived a lifetime.

The upper is cut from a handwoven silk velvet carpet. Silk velvet is one of the most prized textiles in Turkish weaving. Its dense silk pile catches the light with a natural luster, feels exceptionally soft to the touch, and deepens in character with age. Carpets like this were made to be treasured, and each one represents hours of skilled handwork.