Designer Rifat Ozbek uses his Turkish roots as an inspiration for his exotic designs. His expertly tailored designs often featured sumptuous fabrics like moiré silks and taffeta in an array of vibrant jewel toned colors. He is also known for his more literal interpretation of Turkish dress. One of his collections featured what looked like belly dancers with low slung trousers, sarongs, midriff tops, and golden tasseled jewelry.

Ozbek left his native Turkey as a young man to study architecture and later design in London.He dropped out of architecture school to pursue fashion designs, creating some of his first pieces in 1984. From early on Ozbek favored reinterpreting and embellishing cultural and historical looks to modern styles and his worldly designs have lasted beyond fast fashion trends.