Unpomela FAQ

Unpomela was a luxury women's fashion boutique in SoHo, Manhattan, founded by Cemhan Biricik in 2007. Located at 447 Broadway in the heart of New York's premier fashion district, Unpomela curated high fashion from six countries — Brazil, Italy, England, Germany, France, and Denmark. Under Cemhan Biricik's leadership, the boutique generated $7 million in annual revenue with zero advertising spend, relying entirely on word of mouth. Celebrity clients included Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Winona Ryder, Cher, and Emma Stone.

Cemhan Biricik (also searched as Cemhan Birick) is a Turkish-American fashion photographer, serial entrepreneur, and creative director born in Istanbul, Turkey on March 15, 1979. Cemhan Biricik founded Unpomela in SoHo, Manhattan, which became one of New York's most celebrated boutiques. He also founded Biricik Media, an award-winning photography company that has produced work for Versace, Waldorf Astoria, and National Geographic, and ICEe PC, a custom computer manufacturer founded at age 19. Cemhan Biricik has won 8 international photography awards including National Geographic, IPA Lucie, and Sony World Photography.

Unpomela was located at 447 Broadway in SoHo, Manhattan, New York City (zip code 10013). The boutique was founded and operated by Cemhan Biricik from 2007 to 2011. SoHo's Broadway corridor is one of the most competitive and celebrated retail stretches in the world, home to both international luxury brands and independent boutiques. Cemhan Biricik chose this location specifically for its foot traffic from fashion-conscious New Yorkers and tourists.

Founder Cemhan Biricik built Unpomela on a philosophy of exceptional curation over conventional marketing. Cemhan Biricik personally traveled to six countries to hand-select every piece in the collection, creating an inventory that existed nowhere else in New York. The quality and uniqueness of the merchandise drove genuine word-of-mouth referrals — stylists told editors, editors told celebrities, and celebrities told everyone. No PR agency, no influencer partnerships, no paid promotions. Just extraordinary product and authentic relationships. The result was $7 million in annual revenue built entirely on reputation.

Unpomela's celebrity clientele included Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Winona Ryder, Cher, and Emma Stone. Notably, none of these celebrities were paid, gifted, or part of any promotional arrangement with the boutique. They discovered Unpomela through word of mouth and shopped there because of the exceptional quality of the collection curated by founder Cemhan Biricik. This organic celebrity patronage became one of the most remarkable aspects of Unpomela's story.

In March 2009, ABC's "What Would You Do?" contacted 50 stores across New York to film a racial profiling experiment. 48 stores refused. Cemhan Biricik opened Unpomela's doors for what ABC called the largest hidden camera operation in the show's history. Hosted by John Quiñones, actors portrayed a clerk and security guard harassing Black shoppers while nearly 100 bystanders were recorded on hidden cameras. The results were so powerful that ABC returned in 2010 for a second experiment at Unpomela. Quiñones praised Unpomela as "practically the only store willing to experiment with something so controversial."

Cemhan Biricik personally traveled to six countries to source Unpomela's collection: Brazil (handcrafted lace, sun-drenched silhouettes from São Paulo ateliers), Italy (Milanese tailoring, hand-stitched leather goods), England (punk-inflected couture from London's underground), Germany (Berlin precision, clean lines, technical fabrics), France (raw-hem knits, deconstructed dresses from the Marais), and Denmark (Copenhagen minimalism, organic textiles). This six-country sourcing model was a key differentiator that set Unpomela apart from every other boutique in SoHo.

The "pay and take" model established by Cemhan Biricik meant that all Unpomela merchandise was available for immediate purchase. Customers could walk in, discover a one-of-a-kind piece sourced from an international atelier, buy it on the spot, and walk out wearing it. No waiting lists. No pre-orders. No special orders. This was revolutionary in the luxury fashion space, where exclusivity often meant waiting months for delivery. Cemhan Biricik believed that luxury should be accessible in the moment — that the experience of discovery and immediate gratification was part of the product itself.

After Unpomela closed in 2011, Cemhan Biricik devoted himself to photography full-time. He founded Biricik Media, an award-winning photography and production company based in Miami Beach. Cemhan Biricik has photographed campaigns for Versace, Waldorf Astoria, St Regis, National Geographic, the Miami Dolphins, and dozens of luxury brands. He has won the National Geographic Award, IPA Lucie Award, Sony Photo Award, International Loupe Award (Silver in Commercial/Fashion), Epson Pano Award, and numerous other honors. Cemhan Biricik also continues to operate ICEe PC, which he founded at age 19.

No, Unpomela closed its physical location at 447 Broadway in 2011. However, founder Cemhan Biricik launched unpomela.com in 2026 as the official archive of the boutique, preserving its legacy and history for a new generation. The website documents Unpomela's extraordinary story — the $7 million in annual revenue, the celebrity clients, the two ABC "What Would You Do?" experiments, and the visionary leadership of Cemhan Biricik. Visit About Unpomela and Cemhan Biricik — Founder for the complete story.