Paria Farzaneh has London talking. Her designs — which mix contemporary references with historical Iranian prints and patterns — form part of a new guard of collections with dual-heritage at their core. “The media constantly undermines the image of Iran and demonises the Middle East,” Paria explained at her spring/summer 19 presentation last season. “That’s not the real Iran. I want to demonstrate the beauty of the culture.”
For autumn/winter 19, Paria continued to push forward this multidimensional universe with a nylon-heavy collection of two-piece jacket-trouser combos, oversized wool jumpers, printed puffas, in a mix of bright and muted colours and patterns sourced inspired by Iranian designs. Fits were relaxed, casual, while details were precise, considered. The overall effect was not only something wearable, but imaginative and fresh.
Teaming up with Converse — who have given Paria a platform to bring her collection to life on the LFWM schedule — models also donned the new Paria x Converse Chuck 70s. Using hand printed fabrics from Iran, the partnership is a fusion of her signature prints and Converse’s iconic shape. We caught a few words with the designer to find out more about how it all came to life.
Is the collection a natural progression from your last, or did you want to do something completely different?
This season is a raw and deconstructed depiction of the mundanity and repetition of modern life, and the social barriers formed. This is a reflection of the state of fashion as it stands, where identity and function seem to have dwindled, while the need to document daily life has overtaken the need to live in the moment.
Your Iranian heritage is something that you depict so beautifully. In what ways did you want to explore it this time?
I think it’s more important to explore the heritage but to tell different chapters of the story, rather than expecting the same thing every season.
As a young designer, what inspires you most?
I try not to look too much to the past for inspiration. I remain in the present. My shows are a reaction to what I see around me.
How important is collaboration to you?
Converse is an extension of my daily life, I wear them every day. So, to me, collaboration is about having a natural rapport with a brand, object or person and using that as a basis to create.
Tell us about the shoes and working with Converse?
The shoes are custom Chuck 70s. Each pair is handmade, the fabric comes directly from Iran where it is hand printed using wood block techniques.
What, to you, is ‘beauty’?
Inner strength.
How do you survive the madness of preparing a fashion collection and the days coming up to LFWM?
Stay calm. There’s nothing worse than losing yourself in the heat of it all.
