From cultural heritage to inspired contemporary jewelry, this book is a journey into the ateliers of the master artisans in the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul.

This lavishly illustrated book provides an intriguing glimpse inside the luminous world of Fatma Altinbas, an anthropology professor and the creative mind behind the heritage jewelry brand Meváris. Born into a family of gold merchants, she had the privilege of growing up with the Grand Bazaar, immersed in the wonderfully rich history of Istanbul. Her distinctive approach as an academically minded entrepreneur is to marry the city's legacy of impeccable craftsmanship with new and alluring contemporary designs.

This book is a celebration of the magnificent city of Istanbul and this designer's relationship with her creative culture. From the floral motifs in Ottoman kaftans to the enduring Byzantine architectural marvels, the beautiful imagery traces the historical and contemporary influences that have shaped the unique artistic vision guiding Meváris's exquisite jewelry creation. It offers unique aesthetic reinterpretations of Istanbul's heritage and its renowned Grand Bazaar through a celebration of past and present, and the colors and cultural wealth of the contemporary city.

About The Author

Fatma Altinbas was raised in Istanbul. She graduated in international relations from Bilkent University in Ankara and later completed her MBA in Milan. She holds a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology with research on the master artisan jewelers of the Grand Bazaar, and lectures in sociology at the Altinbas University in Istanbul.