Mavi
Mavi Giyim (listed on Borsa Istanbul) · Turkey
Mavi is a Turkish denim and lifestyle brand founded in Istanbul in 1991 by Sait Akarlılar; its name means 'blue' in Turkish. Listed on Borsa Istanbul, it runs around 500 own stores and about 4,000 points of sale in more than 30 countries, with strong positions in Turkey, North America and Germany.
| Founded | 1991, Istanbul |
|---|---|
| Founder | Sait Akarlılar |
| Listing | Borsa Istanbul (MAVI) |
| Headquarters | Istanbul, Turkey |
| Own stores | 498 (company data) |
| Name meaning | 'Blue' in Turkish |
| Website | mavi.com |
What is Mavi?
Mavi is a Turkish fashion company built on denim that has developed into a broader lifestyle brand for women and men. It is headquartered in Istanbul and its shares are traded on Borsa Istanbul. According to the company, lifestyle products account for 62 per cent of the mix and denim bottoms for 38 per cent.
History
Sait Akarlılar founded Mavi in Istanbul in 1991, building on his family's background in denim manufacturing. The brand expanded abroad early, opening flagship stores in New York, Vancouver, Berlin and Frankfurt in 2002 and 2003, and it has subsidiaries in the United States, Canada and Germany among other markets. In 2012 it introduced the Denim Kitchen store concept and a campaign with Adriana Lima, and in 2025 it opened a store in Brooklyn, New York.
Products and positioning
Mavi is a mid-market brand known for jeans in many fits, complemented by tops, knitwear, outerwear and accessories. It runs a sustainability programme called All Blue.
Business model and distribution
The company reports 498 own Mavi stores and around 4,000 points of sale worldwide, combining own retail, wholesale partners and online channels in 34 countries. In Turkey it relies mainly on its own store network, while in North America and Europe wholesale partners play a larger role.
Mavi and technology
- Late 2007: launch of the Kartuş loyalty programme, which the company uses to analyse customer data; it reports around 11 million members.
- 2013: launch of Mavi's e-commerce site; 2019: launch of the Mavi app.
- 2021: accessibility of Mavi.com and the app for visually impaired users through a partnership with BlindLook.
Why it matters
Mavi is one of the few emerging-market fashion brands to build a meaningful presence in North America and Western Europe, and an example of a vertically minded retailer that uses loyalty data at national scale.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Mavi from?
Mavi is from Turkey. It was founded in Istanbul in 1991 and is still headquartered there; 'mavi' means blue in Turkish.
Who owns Mavi?
Mavi is a public company listed on Borsa Istanbul. It was founded by Sait Akarlılar and has grown into an international brand present in 34 countries.