Les Benjamins’ SS23 collection pays homage to equestrian times

Les Benjamin’s latest east-meets-west collection is an ode to the Middle East’s rich horse racing history.

Fittingly entitled “Horse of the East”, creative director Bunyamin Aydin lifts from the western design codes of horse racing along with the mastery and dressage of its eastern lineage, lifting these ceremonial aesthetics with the brand’s substantial streetwear cuts.

Brought upon by a fascination with horse racing, Aydin shares how the inspiration for the collection came about: “When I was living in Dubai, I was in Business Bay, and my house was really close to Meydan, where all the big horse races take place. Lamia (my partner) would always tell me about her childhood, and how she was inspired by dressing up for the horse races she would attend, and create custom pieces for her. It’s just like a fashion show, everyone dresses up.”

Aydin’s subversive take on design reflects on the fluid silhouettes and expert tailoring seen in this collection. Technical jockey wear has been given a refresh in the form of relaxed-fit performance shapes – a bralette and matching maxi skirt for women and bomber jackets and knee-length shorts for men. Meanwhile, the brand’s signature Turkish carpet print maintains a strong presence throughout, cleverly injected with horse motifs, metal plates, and tassels, juxtaposing the Western formality of horse racing with the Bedouin lifestyle.

Scroll through the gallery for a first look at Les Benjamins’ Spring/Summer 2023 collection: