Istanbul exhibition showcases 80 handbags from 55 brands
A new exhibition at Beymen Tersane in Istanbul presents 80 handbag creations from 55 international brands to mark the cultural complex opening.
Exhibition features historical and modern pieces
The presentation curated by Laurence Benaïm brings together archival treasures alongside newly commissioned works. Seven chapters explore the relationship between bags and cultural memory across different themes. Highlights include a massive Louis Vuitton wardrobe trunk made in 1886 for Sultan Abdülhamid II. Precious Envelopes displays pouches once used by ambassadors to carry letters and imperial decrees.
Venue occupies historic shipyard site
Beymen Tersane occupies part of a historic shipyard on the Golden Horn stretching back 600 years. Architects Rem Koolhaas and OMA reimagined the site as a 12,000-square-meter destination for fashion and art. The project continues a conversation started in 2023 with a previous exhibition featuring 50 international brands. This time the bag became the focus of the display rather than general luxury goods.
Curator emphasizes heritage and future
According to Benaïm, preserving heritage means bringing the past's beauty forward into tomorrow. The exhibition took more than two years to complete as a love letter to Turkish culture. Three designs by young Turkish talents were selected through a competition supported by Beymen. These works sit alongside archival treasures from houses like Dior and Schiaparelli.
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