Meet Mina Dilber Temo, Founder of Anim Living, Istanbul

What inspires you? 
I think almost anything and anyone. People I meet, people I look up to, places I travel to, my childhood memories, collectibles and vintage items. Nature itself, art, anything that people turn into art… I truly believe life is about being inspired and being able to inspire anyways.

How much do you think your work is inspired by Turkey?
A lot I would say. Every part of Turkey is an infinite source of inspiration. I spend a lot of time researching textiles around Turkey, sourcing vintage fabrics from small villages of Anatoli, and trying to rewrite stories through textiles – with a sense of cultural responsibility towards our hometown. From once upon a time Constantinople, today’s Istanbul where East meets West with all it’s allure – to the Aegean Coast of Turkey and the rest of the country with its cross-cultural vitality, Turkey really never ceases to amaze one. The four worlds of Anim; Essentials, Terra, Root, and Aegean Spirit actually all carry the traces of our culture with a modern take.

Is there a piece from a collection that has a special meaning for you?
The Helios and Retro Theia Tableware pieces from the new collection, Under The Sun. They were inspired by the Suzani fabrics from grandmother’s vintage textiles collection. With a colorful take and a modern attitude, they really turned out to be amazing. It even excited my grandmother very much. Also our Different But Same- Vintage Cushions from our Root Collection. Some of them were actually featured in the latest issue of Cabana Magazine, it was actually a very special moment to see that since those cushions tell the story of a 100-year-old cultural heritage all the way from the Black Sea Region of Turkey.

What is your favourite hotel in the world? 
Aman Tokyo and Borgo Egnazia in Puglia.

Have you ever wanted to bring back an object from a hotel, restaurant? If so do you remember what it was? 
Almost always! I really get attracted to unique pieces at hotels. Ceramic vases in the rooms of Aman Tokyo were really amazing, I really wanted to bring them back home. And the colorful cushions of El Fenn in Morocco were quite unique, I fell in love with them.

In what way do you think this pandemic will influence the way people see their homes?
I really hope this post pandemic period will make people see their houses as real ‘homes’. Being able to spend more time than ever at our homes, it seems that we will all realize what really matters and hopefully appreciate our living spaces more.