Les Benjamins Celebrates 15 Years with Apple: “From Earth to Sky”
Bünyamin Aydın’s new Cappadocia-inspired collection was designed on iPad Pro. The sunrise runway show in Güllüdere Valley was shot on iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Istanbul, October 2026 — Istanbul-based lifestyle brand Les Benjamins marks its 15th anniversary with “From Earth to Sky,” a collection created in collaboration with Apple. It is founder and designer Bünyamin Aydın’s most ambitious project to date. The collection brings together Anatolia’s deep-rooted traditions, avant-garde design, the spirit of 1970s rock ’n’ roll and a futuristic vision.
A collection born from Cappadocia’s flowers
The story began with a research trip to Cappadocia in early 2026. In Güllüdere Valley, Aydın found three native plants that became the heart of the collection: green globe thistle, pink vine flowers and wild yellow tulip. The flowers inspired 10 distinct looks and 3 custom-designed hot air balloons. Each of the neon green, pink and yellow balloons carries the color of one of these flowers into the sky.
The palette reflects the idea behind the collection’s name. Cream, blue and earth tones sit alongside the balloons’ vivid hues: the colors of the earth and the sky.
A bridge between East and West
Born and raised in Germany, Aydın puts the duality of German discipline and a Turkish heart at the center of his work. The collection pairs contemporary silhouettes with Turkish fabrics and influences gathered along the Silk Road. Aydın sums up the approach in one line: “The canvas is from the West, the paint is from the East.”
For Aydın, “From Earth to Sky” is a way to share Turkish culture with the world without losing its roots. The show’s opening look, a Turkish kaftan paired with a tree branch symbolizing Anatolia, is a tribute to Turkish rock legend Barış Manço.
[Official quote from Bünyamin Aydın]
Designing on iPad Pro
The entire creative process took shape on iPad Pro with M5 and Apple Pencil Pro. In Freeform, Aydın turned field photos, fabric references and early sketches into mood boards, bringing his team into every stage of the process.
The balloons started as a single form in Procreate. Dozens of variations later, they were refined into three final shapes. With engineering support from Pasha Balloons, a pioneer of hot air ballooning in Cappadocia, the drawings were made ready for flight.
A runway at sunrise
Months of preparation culminated in a sunrise show in Güllüdere Valley, staged across three runways beneath three giant balloons. French director Neels Castillon filmed the entire show on iPhone 18 Pro Max. Drone-mounted cameras and slow-motion footage brought Cappadocia’s natural tones together with the collection’s vibrant colors.
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Shot on Iphone
Backstage
