Rumisu

Rumisu is a joint project of two sisters, Deniz and Pinar Yegin, to welcome everyone into their whimsical world. Their ultimate goal? To let love and curiosity for beauty be a conduit for philanthropy. Oh and of course to create a line of ethically manufactured design accessories that give back to their community of origin, in Turkey, which they do perfectly! Each scarf they create has its own story, characters, inspiration and color palette. We are SO obsessed with these women and their silk scarf storytelling world.

What inspired you to create your own brand/company? Where did your story start?

We were following our passion for illustration, realizing that this was the language we wanted to use to express ourselves and communicate with the world. So we started creating prints with great pleasure around our ‘silly but fun ideas & stories.’ We chose “the silk scarf” as our first blank canvas, as we believed it created a nice contrast to our ‘childish’ stories as a very ‘grown-up’ accessory, and also as two sisters who adored to wrap themselves in huge scarfs.

As your brand continues to grow, what creative endeavors do see on your horizon?

We have always thought of Rumisu as a printmaking brand, as that is what we love to do, and we are flirting with many other possibilities apart from the scarves, on which you can see and enjoy our prints and stories in the near future. We are also working on some fun and creative collaborations with other like-minded brands that will be unveiled shortly.

Who is your muse? Describe the Rumisu man/woman.

We do not design with a specific muse in mind, yet we hope to seduce anyone, of all ages and sex, who would enjoy our sense of humor and light-hearted approach towards life -- anyone who is in tune with their inner-child and not afraid of some color therapy!

What are your favorite places to eat, drink, and shop in Istanbul?

To eat: We both love the timeless classic ‘Karakoy Lokantasi’ either for lunch or dinner. It has completely different menus for both, and they are both truly worth trying. For those interested in a real kebab-fest, we recommend Zubeyir Ocakbasi in Beyoglu… To try really traditional Anatolian cuisine, Ciya in Kadikoy is our favorite. Their chef is a very curious gourmet, who travels extensively in Turkey to find and resurrect old, forgotten or neglected regional recipes.

To shop: We love Souq Dukkan, which has recently moved to a new location in Kanyon Shopping Center, as they bring new and exciting brands together. Midnight Express in Bebek, is also a favorite with a great selection and the most splendid accessories & jewelry selection.

HIC, in Karakoy is definitely a must-go for all interior & design lovers, as they both create their own furniture and also collect exquisite pieces from all around the world.

And on Sundays (yes, every Sunday) there is a great flea market in Bomonti, which is a wonderful place for an exciting treasure hunt. You never know what you will come across!

Oh, and of course there is always the Grand Bazaar, where we lose ourselves (as well as the track of time) every single time, still after so many years.

To drink: For a drink we recommend the balcony of Mangerie in Bebek, where you can enjoy the wonderful Bosphorus view as well as your drink. Or for the most delicious cocktails , you can try Lucca, again in Bebek, where the food is quite yummy as well.

In a perfect world, where do you see the hand-made, “slow-fashion” industry in the next five years?

We believe that the ‘slow-fashion’ industry will play a much more prominent role in the future. Our increasingly ‘busy’ lives will eventually train all of us to seek the sanity of simplicity. We hope that we will learn to lead more deliberate lives, opting to invest in fewer but well-made and well-designed items that really speak to us and truly become a beloved part of our lives.

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