From Middle Eastern Roots to Brooklyn Blooms: Meet Asli, the Visionary Behind Florentine Iris

Ciao, fashion lovers! At Florentine Iris, every stitch tells a story—and today, we're pulling back the curtain on ours. We're not just another women's clothing brand; we're a family-owned venture led by a fierce woman in her early 30s, fueled by overseas grit and unbreakable motivation. Meet Asli Basak, our founder and creative force, whose journey from a dusty Middle Eastern boutique to a Brooklyn home studio is the heartbeat of our Italian-inspired line.

Asli's story starts in the sun-baked streets of Istanbul, Turkey. Born to immigrant parents who fled hardship in search of stability, life wasn't handed on a silver platter. "We came from nothing," Asli recalls, "but my mother taught me that fabric could weave dreams into reality." By age six, Asli was knee-deep in threads, helping her mother run a small boutique tucked in a bustling souk. That shop wasn't glamorous—think cramped shelves overflowing with vibrant silks and cottons, haggling customers, and long nights mending hems under flickering lights. But it was magic. Her mother, a trailblazing entrepreneur in a male-dominated market, turned scraps into statement pieces, dressing local women with elegance and empowerment. "She showed me how clothes can transform not just a look, but a life," Asli says.

Fast-forward through trials that would break most: Family relocations across borders, economic struggles, and the constant hustle of adapting to new cultures. Laila and her family eventually landed overseas, carrying little but their resilience. In her teens, she juggled school with odd jobs in garment districts, honing skills passed down from her mother. "Cloth has been my companion since childhood—it's therapy, it's art, it's survival," she shares. By her 20s, Laila was designing her own pieces, blending Middle Eastern patterns with global influences. But the road was rocky: Rejections from big retailers, financial setbacks, and the isolation of building from scratch. What kept her going? Pure motivation—a fire lit by her mother's legacy and a dream to create accessible, beautiful clothing for women like her: Strong, diverse, and unapologetically ambitious.

Enter Florentine Iris. In her early 30s now, Asli launched this family-owned brand from her Brooklyn home, drawing inspiration from Florence's iconic irises—symbols of hope and renewal that mirror her own blooming journey. "I wanted to honor my roots while embracing Italian elegance," she explains. "Our pieces, like flowy floral dresses and cozy viscose blouses, are sourced from ethical wholesalers all over the glob, and shipped straight to you." It's a small operation: Asli leads design and operations, with family pitching in on packing and ideas. No fancy offices—just a converted Brooklyn space buzzing with creativity. Hazards overcome? Plenty—from supply chain delays (mitigated by small-batch orders) to the leap of faith in e-commerce (powered by Shopify's user-friendly tools).

What makes Florentine Iris special? It's women-led, heart-driven, and built on motivation forged in hardship. Asli's story infuses every item: Sustainable fabrics echoing her mother's resourcefulness, versatile styles for busy lives, and prices ($19.90-$69.95) that make luxury feel attainable. "We've faced closed doors, but each one opened a window to innovation," Laila notes. Today, as we expand our casual women's wear—sweaters, jackets, tops, jeans, swimwear, and sets—it's all about empowering you to feel that same unstoppable energy.