An Insider’s guide to shopping in Istanbul, by Madame Malachite
Plus your chance to WIN the perfect spring clutch!
Istanbul’s position on an ancient trade route between East and West means that it’s long been a world-renowned shopping destination. It’s an eclectic hub for all things Oriental, from Ottoman antiques and fine carpets to traditional Iznic pottery.
But there’s so much more besides. In recent years, Istanbul has welcomed a wealth of new interiors stores, cutting-edge fashion boutiques and swoonworthy homeware shops that give London or Paris a run for their money. Looking at you Nackiyé.
For the inside scoop, I asked the brilliant Irem Kinay, aka Madame Malachite, to curate an insider’s guide to the best of Istanbul shopping. Here, she shares vintage hotspots, buzzy artisan brands and antique markets to hit up. But first, I have a surprise for you…
In celebration of my first birthday spent in Istanbul and a new season of spring shopping, Madame Malachite is treating one lucky winner to this gorgeous Madame Malachite Talisman clutch in yellow (above) worth $550!!! How cool is that. To be in with a chance of winning, follow these simple steps:
Follow @madamemalachite & @lucy_scovell on Instagram
Like & save the Instagram giveaway announcement post
Tag a friend in the comments and say what you’d pair the clutch with
For an extra entry, share the Instagram giveaway announcement post in your story tagging @madamemalachite & @lucy_scovell
And for a bonus entry, upgrade your Istanbulist subscription to paid (which is only £50 a year!!) by hitting the button below. Current paid subscribers will be automatically entered into the competition.
The competition closes and will be drawn at random on 31 May at 5pm (GMT). The winner will be announced via my story (@lucy_scovell) and will be notified via Direct Message and / or email. T&Cs below.
We wish you all the best of luck.
Now back to Irem on all things shopping in Istanbul….
Hi Irem. I’m so thrilled you’ve agreed to share your little black book of shopping addresses. But first, tell me more about Madame Malachite.
I set up Madame Malachite, a luxury leather atelier, in Istanbul in 2017. Malachite was used as a talisman by the ancient Egyptians and has long been a powerful stone of transformation. It has always been my lucky stone. Madame Malachite is not just a brand but also a personal story of transformation and exploration that I wanted to share with a wider audience. I set out to create the modern cabinet of curiosities, infused with colour and the magic of the malachite stone.
Congratulations on the opening of your first Madame Malachite boutique. Why did you decide to open it in Dubai?
My vision for Madame Malachite was always to make it a global brand and I feel that Dubai is an exciting place to meet different people from around the world. The Madame Malachite Gallery in Jumeirah 1 is dedicated to artisanal and collectable design from all corners of the globe. In addition to Madame Malachite leather accessories, there are pieces from other designers and artists who believe in the same artisanal values as we do.
Where are your favourite vintage shops in Istanbul?
For furniture and accessories, I’d say Samdan Antique, Asli Gunsiray and A la Turca in Cukurcuma. Uskudar antiques market is also great. I bought a very important Art Deco bar signed by Louis Majorelle from there a little while ago. It was a bargain at the time — a completely unexpected but amazing find.
Which local homeware brands should be on my radar?
Pinoli is my favourite local glass brand. Their cocktail glasses are fabulous. Etem Ruhi for Turkish citrus cologne is another local brand I love. You should also check out Touline for modern ceramics and Cigdem Karabayir for her Kufi calligraphy bowls.
The hot Turkish fashion labels to know are…
Siedrés and Nackiyé. They’re the best!
Where should I go for local artisan textiles?
Kutnia and Yastik for pillows, Jaquette by Elvan for her summer kimonos, Deregozu in Kapalicarsi for ikat and vintage kaftans, Lando Studio for harem pants and The 10pm for silk pillowcases. I also love Dhoku for modern kilims and Gunes Oztarakci in Nisantasi for antique carpets.
And for jewellery?
I love Melis Goral for her art deco style and Evren Kayar for her sculptural jewellery.
Where is your favourite place to go shopping in Istanbul?
Bebek, which is where my office is. I enjoy walking around the area as it’s on the sea and makes me feel like I’m on holiday even when I’m rushing between meetings.
One place only locals know about…
Berceste for artisanal foods. It’s amazing. I’d also recommend sourcing olive oil from Angelos, and Turkish tahini and molasses from Servet Sekerleme.
And…your favourite Madame Malachite product?
I believe in the power of writing letters, so I play a lot with the concept of the envelope in my designs. Our travel envelope backgammon (above) is one of my favourites, as it’s sealed with Madame Malachite’s kiss: the malachite stone. It also fits neatly under your arm in case you lose the game. Traditionally the loser would place the closed board under his/her arm, go away and learn how to play better before playing again. I love that.
Explore Madame Malachite’s World at MadameMalachite.com
*All entries are free. UK and Turkey entries only 18+. The prize (a Madame Malachite Talisman Clutch in yellow) is non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash. It cannot be sold or given to an alternative party. The cost of shipping will be covered. The winner will not be entitled to any compensation and will have no claim against Madame Malachite or Lucy Scovell should the prize be lost in transit.
This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administrated by, or associated in any way with Instagram. Competition winner announcements will only be posted by the @lucy_scovell official Instagram account. I will never contact you asking for personal bank account details. Should you be contacted by an account claiming to be @lucy_scovell, please block and report them immediately.