AFSHIN FEIZ

British designer Afshin Feiz attended the avant-garde fashion school, Studio Berçot, in Paris. He grew up in England where he attended Cranleigh School in Surrey, and then in Vancouver BC, Canada. He studied French Literature at Reed College in Portland, Oregon, in the United States before moving to Paris. To add a final international touch to his background, he showed his collections in New York during the Olympus Fashion Week until his Spring 2008 Collection when he started showing at London Fashion Week. He is now based in London once again. Feiz had work experience at Thierry Mugler and John Galliano after school before moving on to Christian Lacroix Haute Couture, where he feels he benefited largely from Lacroix’s extensive knowledge and personal culture. Next came a year as Director of The Design Studio at Gilles Rosier before ending up three years at Nina Ricci as the First Assistant Designer for the main line and Coordinator of all of the licences. Feiz’s dream to start a line under his own name became a reality in 2004. The Afshin Feiz brand has rapidly built up a solid reputation and is sold in Asia, Europe and North America. His aesthetic adheres to the idea of women that like to be beautiful and feminine, sexy yet not vulgar. His flirtatious diaphanous dresses and blouses are mixed with perfectly cut tailoring that creates a chemistry between the masculine and feminine that focuses on the latter. His curved seaming makes the clothes fit perfectly, accentuating the beauty and hiding the flaws of the body. Inspiration comes from love, nature and spirituality-related themes. From his first ever collection for Spring/Summer 2005, named Art As Flirtation Ad Surrender was inspired by 13th Century Persian Poet Rumi whose references to butterflies and candles were synonymous to lovers and their beloved. The quest for love despite its dangers. To his last collection for Spring 2009, Sometimes You Just Have To Let Go, inspired by Buddha’s Silent Sermon where he finds beauty and meaning in the simplicity of a flower. Collaborations have come in the form of his Spring/Summer 2005 Catalogue being shot by his friend, rockstar/photographer Bryan Adams, his Autumn/Winter 2005 Show Invitation being illustrated by Psychedelic Furs frontman Richard Butler, and a song being written and recorded for that same show by LA music producer (for Alanis Morrisette, Elvis Costelloe and The Red Hot Chili Peppers), Jimmy Boyle. The legendary soul band The Brand New Heavies performed at his Spring 2007 show in New York. Afshin Feiz has dressed many celebrities from Katie Holmes, Paris Hilton, Elizabeth Hurley, Julia Stiles to Girls Aloud.