SARAY — A POSTCARD FROM CRIMEA
The SARAY collection (“palace” in Crimean Tatar) was born from a longing to experience Crimea once again — through memories, details, and shades. Its inspiration comes from the Khan’s Palace in Bakhchisarai (“garden-palace” in Crimean Tatar), an ensemble where architecture and nature harmoniously intertwine, forming a single, inseparable organism.
“For me, SARAY is a postcard from Crimea. It is the desire to feel its warmth, color, aroma, sound, and taste once more. It is an attempt to recreate from memory a place that today remains out of reach, yet always lives in my heart,” says designer Daria Plaksiuk.
The silhouettes and details of the collection echo the rhythm of the palace: open ayvans, vaulted arches, slender minarets, and ornate balconies — each of these elements finds its place, creating the sensation of strolling through the halls of the khan’s residence.
Botanical motifs, inspired by the palace’s carved elements, run as a subtle thread throughout the collection: embroidered cypresses and pomegranates, sculpted finishes, and decorative buttons — these details evoke the garden outside the window and the symbolism of Crimean Tatar culture.
The color palette of the collection reflects the materials of the palace and the surrounding nature: glossy white marble, soft creamy limestone, and terracotta tiles, the greenery of the garden, the red of pomegranates, and the deep purple of mulberries conjure memories of carefree Crimean summers.
The collection’s accessories — pillow-shaped bags — evoke the atmosphere of comfort and hospitality found in Crimean homes. Each piece is given a Crimean Tatar name, emphasizing its cultural connection and inviting a deeper immersion into the collection’s context: Nar — pomegranate, Gul — rose, Servi — cypress.
This collection is a way to touch Crimea through form, color, and memory, preserving its warmth in everyday objects.