We had the good fortune of connecting with Nihan Tasbasi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nihan, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
Outsiders to the ethical and slow fashion perspective really are in the dark about the extent to which the fast fashion industry dominates their expectations and sense of value. This goes hand in and with a general lack of awareness about what it takes to produce a single piece of clothing, from the choice and sourcing of materials through the design and production. Similarly, outsiders tend to be unsuspecting of the relationship between environmental issues and the fashion industry.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
To be honest, when I started Minik Collection I certainly had a vision and what I felt was a strong idea with potential, but I really didn’t start it to create a business as much I started it as a way for me to invest my energy into something new that was personally meaningful and fulfilling. I was very much responding to my life at the moment and the business developed naturally out my desire to build something that could braid together my many different interests and passions. I have made dozens of mistakes business-wise because I started with no training or background in business or fashion, but I have made it my mission to learn from each mistake. Without question, I have learned the most from my peers – other woman-owned small businesses and vendors. I have come to learn the importance of generosity and reciprocity in this world of small businesses.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am very much still learning about Miami, so I can’t necessarily claim that my itinerary is very original, but Wynwood was one of the first neighborhoods that I visited in Miami so naturally, whenever I have a visitor I first take them to Wynwood Walls. In this scenario, we’d then go to Salty Donuts (always is a must) after visiting Nomad Tribe (a platform for sustainable and conscious brands). I’d have to include weekday brunch at Threefold Café/Coral Gables – Valla Eggs, yogurt blend topped with poached eggs is my favorite dish. We’d have to spend time sitting and drinking Turkish coffee at Mandolin Aegean Bistro in the Design District. The ambiance and music always make me feel like I’m back home in Turkey. Can’t forget getting popsicles from the Perez Art Museum cafe and enjoying the view of Biscayne Bay from the artist Konstantin Grcic’s swing installation, “Netscape” in the northeast corner of the museum. Maybe a morning in Coconut Grove, the beautiful historical neighborhood hosts my favorite farmer’s markets every weekend. We’d have to grab a coffee and walk to the farmers market and then rest on the rocking chairs on the porch of The Barnacle Historic State Park and enjoy the water view. Lastly, I have to include the sunset at Hobie Island Beach Park after a short walk by the shore, the perfect calming end for a long day.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to all of the local artisans in Turkey that I have been able to work with and learn from. Their talent and generosity are inspiring. A great read I can recommend to learn more about the realities behind the clothes we wear is, “Stitched Up: The Anti-Capitalist Book of Fashion” by Tansy E. Hoskins. Also, Fashion Revolution is a not-for-profit global movement that campaigns for the reform of the fashion industry with a focus on the need for supply chain transparency. And of course, my brother and parents back in Turkey deserve much credit for managing the many small details when I am not able to be there physically.

Website: www.minikcollection.com
Instagram: @minik_collection
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minikcollection