You’ve just left behind an intense studio day at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. Maybe you're looking for a new starting point for your graduation project, or perhaps you just want to grab your sketchbook and refresh your mind in a space where fabrics, patterns, and craftsmanship take center stage. 

As you walk from the Fındıklı campus towards Karaköy, right next to you is a historical building that actually gathers the boutiques of many Turkish designers under one roof: Galataport Istanbul Paket Postanesi. 

Beyond being a shopping destination, this is a dynamic space where you can observe the window displays and collection stories of local fashion and jewelry designers all together. Plus, it’s just a few minutes' walk from school. 

Here is an inspiration tour you can drop by after class and get lost in the design details: 

1. In Pursuit of Fabrics and Patterns: Fashion Designers 

If you want to get a closer look at the stitching details, fabric choices, and pattern plays of the prominent names of Turkish fashion for your new collection experiments, you can add these boutiques inside the historical texture of Paket Postanesi to your route: 

• Arzu Kaprol: A detailed examination of geometric cuts and architectural forms. 

• Mehtap Elaidi: Different interpretations of the white shirt and voluminous patterns. 

• TAGG: The balance where masculine tailoring meets feminine lines. 

• Şiyar Akboğa: Innovative touches and the dynamics of modern street style. 

• Boho Loves Elif Mısırlı: The use of ethnic motifs and fluid fabrics. 

Seeing the collections of these brands side-by-side can be a great practice in understanding how a brand identity is created and storified. 

2. Craftsmanship and Detail: Fine Jewelry 

Inspiration isn't only in textiles; sometimes it's hidden in a microscopic detail. If you want to look at design from a different discipline, through the window of craftsmanship: 

• Sevan Bıçakçı: You can closely examine his sculptural designs to see the stories engraved inside the rings and the heights craftsmanship has reached. 

• Bee Goddess: A great stop to observe how symbolism and mythological figures are adapted into modern jewelry. 

You can treat Paket Postanesi as an observation field. While sitting and sketching at one of the coffee shops under the historical dome, you can feed off this surrounding design ecosystem and generate new ideas for your projects.