An Imaginary Brand: HAREM

I imagine a brand which associates with the old hedonistic lifestyle, once arguably lived behind the doors of Ottoman Harem!

Harem pants are among the hottest trends of 2010! It’s sure that we will see more and more orientalist designs for a good few years ahead because of the arab effect!

But It’s not only the design, i think what’s really exciting about Harem, as a concept, refering to the old times, is the feeling of intimacy.

I imagine an İstanbul based, prestigious, ready-to-wear brand, named HAREM which reflects the mystery and prestige of the daily life of Harem, once in Topkapi Palace!

Harem: a sacred place, dedicated only to women

In those old times, the woman of Harem, named ‘cariye’, was chosen and raised to be a member of this obscure club. Once they were accepted into the court, they stepped into a very protected, glamorous and previliged life.
It was so protected that the only man who can enter the doors of Harem was the sultan himself.
Cariyes were served the best of all, in return for serving their best to his majesty. The competition among the cariyes were harsh in order to become Sultan's favorite and give him a son.
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Because there is very little known about this confidential life of Harem, it has provoked a orgy-like lifestyle imagination in westerners' mind for centuries.

The brand i imagine is mainly built around this hedonistic perception.

‘The whetted desires’ are gonna be at the core of the brand concept!

It's all about the feeling of luxury, the old mysterious hedonism, and gaining power in a very closed society to be the sultan's favorite!

you may think the last statement is kind of chauvinist, but actually very little has changed since then and today women still have strong desire for gaining power to acquire what they want!

When you think about Ottoman lifestyle you would probably remember old-fashion costumes such as kaftans or harem pants.

Forget them.

For the brand, Harem, not the kind of garments which were used at the court is important. What are emphasized, along with the feeling, are the patterns. These old-time Ottoman patterns can be modernized and used as the reference point!

Also i would like the brand has an instore hammam and host a special 'hot night out!' (details of which left to your imagination!)