Skip to main content

The Arasta Bazaar

Even though I enjoyed browsing the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul (previous post), I found it to be overwhelming because of its size and how crowded it was. My lovely friend S suggested that I check out Arasta Bazaar in the Sultanahmet area for a better shopping experience. So I took her advice and I'm so glad I did. The bazaar, which was built at the same time as the Blue Mosque in 1617, was less crowded and offered traditional merchandise like textiles, ceramics, and carpets, but better quality and different than anything I saw at the Grand Bazaar, in my opinion at least. Yes, the prices were also higher, but if you want something unique wouldn't you pay a little bit extra? Oh! And don't buy souvenirs from Arasta, as you will find them half the price in shops located off-the-tourist-path areas.

One shop I strongly recommend visiting is called Er & Ne & Met, it had the best selection of carpets, kilims, ikat fabrics, vintage caftans, pillow cases... etc I have ever seen during my stay there. We stumbled upon it by coincidence and we ended up buying three carpets and several pillow cases. The funny thing is that when the sales guy found out that we're from Kuwait, he told us that they're currently working Williams-Sonoma, a high-end American furniture store, to provide them with wholesale merchandise. I've heard that AlShaya Group is supposed to open Williams-Sonoma in Kuwait and the region sometime in the future. Anyhow, here are some photos of Er & Ne & Met. Also scroll down for another cute shop recommendation.

The photo above is showcasing a beautiful vintage piece available at Er & Ne & Met

A stunning vintage piece also spotted at Er & Ne & Met

Here's another cute find recommended by my lovely friend S. The store is called Cocoon and it sells the most adorable accessories and leather goods for kids and adults. It also sells pillow cases, leather goods, beanie hats (the kind that would make Bryan boy green with envy), vintage caftans, and more. The shop is located very close to the Arasta Bazaar



Labels:

Comments

Maria said…
Can İ get some examples about prices? Thank you :)
19 June, 2014
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Altuzarra or Aquazzura?

That is the question. It took me a whole season to finally tell these two brands apart, and this season, there's no mistake, each brand is now engraved in my fashion database like a personalized Tiffany's pen. And this Resort 2015 season, I'm head over heels with their flats, on display now at AlOthman Boutique . Altuzarra's version comes in a tonal-gray water snake and are decorated with beige shells, red beads and silver sequins. Aquazzura's lace-up sandals come in a beautiful shade of apple green, and will work with white or bright colored casual summer outfit.  After much thought and sole-searching, I have decided to go for the  Altuzarra   sandals. They're safely stored in my closet, waiting for the dust and the cold to go away.  Which pair would you go for?
Post a Comment
Read more

Magical Mode

As anyone who regularly reads Confashions may know, there are some designers I’ve been obsessed with for quite some time: one is the genius Erdem , the other is Nicholas Kirkwood , and Pierre Hardy . And because their designs are somehow easily accessible online and offline, I had the pleasure of featuring some of their creations and showing them the love they deserve. That said, there is one designer I’ve been particularly smitten with for quite some time. He has always been on the top of my favorite designers list ever since I was introduced to his designs by my fabulous fellow fashionisto Adnan Z Manjal   a couple of years back : Saudi designer Mohammed Ashi . I always wished I featured him more. I couldn’t because his pieces are very exclusive and as far as I know not stocked anywhere here. This clearly isn't just another post on my obvious love for Mohammed Ashi’s designs or the quality of his clothes as I have done that previously. Ashi simply deserves his very own epic p...
22 comments
Read more

To New Beginnings...

"What did this Corona crisis teach you?" my friend asked. My first thought was thing crisis has opened my eyes on the simple pleasures of life. My priorities have changed. And I feel every day is a new beginning. First of all, it made me realize how much I miss blogging. How simple and mentally satisfying it was to jolt down my thoughts on a field that I was very passionate about. I have to admit that I'm not as passionate now. Don't get me wrong, I still like fashion, but it's now on the bottom of my priorities list. I would like to blog about other things too that I feel much related to. I recently discovered that I do enjoy cooking. For the longest time, cooking to me was a nightmare.  This corona crisis has taught us that we can look forward to a new day with new possibilities to contribute or to help another, or to simply approach things differently, and most importantly to make the most of each day we have and share that goodness with others.
Post a Comment
Read more