Born and raised in Istanbul, I was always fascinated by the concept of colour; and how to
combine them in harmony. As a young woman, I painted, and then moved to New York to
study at the Rhode Island School of Design, working principally with textiles.
It was here that I fell in love with the construction of accessories, deciding on the spot to
translate my background in fashion into my own brand... and at that moment, MISELA
was born.
I drew inspiration from the pattern, Cintamani... and we adopted the motif as a key part of
the brand identity and design philosophy. In ancient cultures, Cintamani symbolises the
eye of reason, the eye of the heart and the eye of the tiger.
By taking on the everlasting pattern, we create modern talismans of feminine energy,
strength and power. The name of the brand is, in fact, an acronym of my name with my
two sister's names Mina and Lara... MISELA... women across the world represent the
attributes of independence, strength and authenticity. Family and friends that support
one another and lift each other higher, and it is tied to the age-old principles of
sisterhood.
We started in New York in 2008, I wanted to appeal to women in pursuit of modern and
timeless designs that are also unique and playful. Two years later, with a deep
connection to my home city, I opened a small workshop in Istanbul, harnessing
traditional Turkish artisanal talent and resources.
The first MISELA store in Pera, Istanbul was opened in 2012.
Shortly after, our "Made to Order" collection featuring the iconic herringbone monogram
pattern made its debut and has since become a collector’s item.
We then launched the Mayfair Boutique in London in 2019, marking our 11th anniversary.
This year we celebrate 15 years...
