“I think that’s the most important thing, just being able to talk.
Being able to say how it is when a lot of people don’t want to say it.”
Words by Lola Yeganeh Ameri. Portrait by Charles Cave.
Predominantly known for the fusion of Eastern and Western influences within her designs, Paria Farzaneh no longer identifies as a ‘fashion designer’. “It’s apparent to me that my role was never [meant] to be a fashion designer, and I think what that meant 20 years ago and what it means today are very different things.” The Iranian creative was raised in Hull and is now steering her brand towards a communal ethos while also redirecting her gaze towards the pressing issues of our global landscape – an area in which she feels the attention of the fashion industry is lacking.
In an era where the omnipresence of the internet exerts profound influence upon our consciousness, Farzaneh expresses concern that this has transformed the fashion industry into one that is highly “commercialized, with the whole meaning and motivation of fashion being completely diluted.” Her frustration with this is what led her to channel her voice more in her work and to use it to inspire others to make their voices heard.
Paria Farzaneh Collection shot by Maxwell Granger
“Anyone who’s involved in this world can have a voice. Not letting the voice die in any shape or form, whether that is in garments, spaces or conversations. The motivation will continue to be the same, if not stronger.” Her strong, opinionated personality and the political undertones in her work resemble that of a young Vivienne Westwood, but Farzaneh isn’t influenced by other designers; she finds creativity in her childhood memories. “Because I have predominantly been surrounded by my heritage my whole life, that will always be an integral, invisible thread throughout everything I do. I spend a lot of my time reading and finding out about history and different cultures. I look through family albums a lot. I think it’s a metamorphosis of what a memory is, what the contemporary influence is, and how I can elevate my lifestyle and the people around me.”
Farzaneh’s creations are not only known in the West, but also resonate deeply in Iran, where numerous aspiring designers dream to one day showcase their work at Fashion Week. “I hope that for the next generations, the people who have stood before them, who are Iranian, are able to say you can also have this life, and your voice is important. You need to really believe in yourself and don’t let anyone else tell you it’s not possible. We can be the markers for everybody else.”
With big projects on the horizon, Paria Farzaneh is driven to not only broaden the community she has cultivated but also to nurture her own creative evolution. “In the next couple of years, I’m definitely going to have the space to express my heritage differently. And that’s exciting as it means, as a creative, you’re able to move on and be able to talk about what you want to talk about but from a different perspective.”
Discover this piece inside the Persian Chapter at The Silk Road Issue 12
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