In an era when personal style often speaks louder than words, Misela - the Istanbul-born accessories house that opened its first New York boutique on Bond Street just a year ago - has unveiled a campaign that treats its handbags as vessels for narrative. Titled "Misela Portraits," the series is lensed by Paola Kudacki and celebrates an international roster of creatives, from editor Princess Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz to actor Waris Ahluwalia and artists Maddie Moon and Sheree Hovsepian. The campaign poses a compelling question: "What do you carry when you create?"
For founder Serra Türker Bayır, the project is deeply personal. "These portraits are not only about style, but about perspective, identity, and the confidence that defines the Misela individual," she explains. The campaign marks a milestone for the brand, which, like many luxury accessories houses, understands that what one carries is often a reflection of inner life. In lingerie history, the concept of "carrying" has long been intertwined with the corset and the bustle - garments that shaped and supported, much like a well-crafted bag. Misela's approach echoes that intimate relationship between structure and self-expression.
When Misela opened on Bond Street, Türker Bayır noted the challenge of bridging uptown and downtown sensibilities. "New York is torn into two segments," she said. "I would love to reach both worlds." Now, with this campaign, she is reaching far beyond - connecting Istanbul's rich textile heritage (a nod to the Ottoman-era silk trade) to a global community of cultural voices. The result is a portrait of confidence, carried in every sense of the word.
Originally reported by WWD