RedWine
01-24-2006, 10:33 AM
A true Parisian fashion designer, Afshin Feiz was born in Iran. He grew up in London and Vancouver, and attended Portland's Reed College, where he studied French Literature. He then moved to Paris to school at the prestigious Studio Berçot. He apprenticed at Thierry Mugler while still at school. He then worked with John Galliano, and Christian Lacroix Haute Couture. As Director of the design studio at Gilles Rosier and first assistant at Nina Ricci for three years, he gained ample experience in the fashion industry. It was then that he decided to go on his own. His first line was launched in 2004. His latest collection, aptly named "The Butterfly Catcher" was influenced by his roots and Persian poetry.
You have lived in different places. Do you have a favorite city and why.
Afshin Feiz : New York City is probably my favourite city because there is always that feeling that when you get up in the morning you never know what interesting person or opportunity you're going to encounter.
Tell us a little about your background, and where you grew up?
AF: I was born in Tehran and spent most of my formative years in boarding schools in England, Switzerland and Canada. I shared my holidays between London, Marbella and The Hague. I studied French Literature at Reed College in Portland, Oregon, before moving to Paris and attending avant-garde fashion school, Studio Berçot. I have been based in Paris for over 11 years.
"Jean-Paul Gaultier is the reason I wanted to be a fashion designer." - Afshin
Can you tell us a little about how you got started in your field of fashion?
AF: I was a model during school which opened a few doors for me in fashion and I was also interning at Thierry Mugler whilst at school. Then I interned at John Galliano and after a stint at Christian Lacroix Haute Couture, I was Director of The Design Studio at Gilles Rosier and then First Assistant at Nina Ricci for 3 years.
Your latest collection THE BUTTERFLY CATCHER has lots of Persian inspiration, we hear. Can you tell us about it?
AF: As most Iranians know, in Persian poetry there are a lot of references to butterflies and candles being synonymous to lovers and their beloved. I was very inspired by Rumi's poems, particularly one called, Art as Flirtation and Surrender which also became the title for my first collection. The Butterfly Catcher Collection was investigating this idea a little more and imagining the lover chasing her beloved using the image of a butterfly catcher.
How was the collection received and what differences do you see between say a Vancouver audience vs. a New York audience?
AF: The collection was very well received and Time Out New York named me one of four “on-the-brink designers on the path to greatness.” New York audiences are much tougher than Vancouver ones and very different to Paris ones. Paris and New York have different requirements each equally challenging to satisfy but Vancouver audiences tend to be happy just to have a European type designer showing there for once.
Who are some of your favorites poets from Iran?
AF: Rumi and Omar Khayam.
What do you hope to achieve with great design?
AF: I am not one of those designers that thinks they are changing the world. I do high end clothes so I am perfectly conscious that they are a luxury. On a personal level, I do hope to make women embrace a somewhat archaic idea of enjoying dressing up and always making an effort with their hair and make-up. My position is a modern one in that they are no longer doing this for their husbands but for themselves. Women today are lawyers, doctors, have their own businesses and so can afford to look good for themselves.
Who were some of the biggest influence of your work past or present?
AF: Jean-Paul Gaultier is the reason I wanted to be a fashion designer though his aesthetic today is not one I particularly embrace anymore. I am very inspired by the 1930s work of Madeleine Vionnet and today I am obsessed with Chloe though I am sad to hear that Phoebe Philo has just resigned as the Head Designer because she is one of the only other designers that I am very inspired by. Tom Ford has been a big influence on me as well.
What are some of the upcoming projects or events that you have planned in the near future?
AF: My Fall 2006 Show is on February 3rd at 2:00pm in New York at The Altman Building on 18th St.
I have also been invited to show in Moscow this season which I'm very excited about.
You have lived in different places. Do you have a favorite city and why.
Afshin Feiz : New York City is probably my favourite city because there is always that feeling that when you get up in the morning you never know what interesting person or opportunity you're going to encounter.
Tell us a little about your background, and where you grew up?
AF: I was born in Tehran and spent most of my formative years in boarding schools in England, Switzerland and Canada. I shared my holidays between London, Marbella and The Hague. I studied French Literature at Reed College in Portland, Oregon, before moving to Paris and attending avant-garde fashion school, Studio Berçot. I have been based in Paris for over 11 years.
"Jean-Paul Gaultier is the reason I wanted to be a fashion designer." - Afshin
Can you tell us a little about how you got started in your field of fashion?
AF: I was a model during school which opened a few doors for me in fashion and I was also interning at Thierry Mugler whilst at school. Then I interned at John Galliano and after a stint at Christian Lacroix Haute Couture, I was Director of The Design Studio at Gilles Rosier and then First Assistant at Nina Ricci for 3 years.
Your latest collection THE BUTTERFLY CATCHER has lots of Persian inspiration, we hear. Can you tell us about it?
AF: As most Iranians know, in Persian poetry there are a lot of references to butterflies and candles being synonymous to lovers and their beloved. I was very inspired by Rumi's poems, particularly one called, Art as Flirtation and Surrender which also became the title for my first collection. The Butterfly Catcher Collection was investigating this idea a little more and imagining the lover chasing her beloved using the image of a butterfly catcher.
How was the collection received and what differences do you see between say a Vancouver audience vs. a New York audience?
AF: The collection was very well received and Time Out New York named me one of four “on-the-brink designers on the path to greatness.” New York audiences are much tougher than Vancouver ones and very different to Paris ones. Paris and New York have different requirements each equally challenging to satisfy but Vancouver audiences tend to be happy just to have a European type designer showing there for once.
Who are some of your favorites poets from Iran?
AF: Rumi and Omar Khayam.
What do you hope to achieve with great design?
AF: I am not one of those designers that thinks they are changing the world. I do high end clothes so I am perfectly conscious that they are a luxury. On a personal level, I do hope to make women embrace a somewhat archaic idea of enjoying dressing up and always making an effort with their hair and make-up. My position is a modern one in that they are no longer doing this for their husbands but for themselves. Women today are lawyers, doctors, have their own businesses and so can afford to look good for themselves.
Who were some of the biggest influence of your work past or present?
AF: Jean-Paul Gaultier is the reason I wanted to be a fashion designer though his aesthetic today is not one I particularly embrace anymore. I am very inspired by the 1930s work of Madeleine Vionnet and today I am obsessed with Chloe though I am sad to hear that Phoebe Philo has just resigned as the Head Designer because she is one of the only other designers that I am very inspired by. Tom Ford has been a big influence on me as well.
What are some of the upcoming projects or events that you have planned in the near future?
AF: My Fall 2006 Show is on February 3rd at 2:00pm in New York at The Altman Building on 18th St.
I have also been invited to show in Moscow this season which I'm very excited about.