Duende

/do͞oˈendā/

Noun: Having soul, a heightened sense of emotion, expression and authenticity.

This collection is all about getting back to my roots. Every piece, every print and every trim of this collection is inspired by the Ancient Era’s of Iran. Iran was once a land of freedom, equality, modernity and innovation and it was this state of mind that inspired the AW18 Collection. The beautiful remnants of Iran’s rich history, such as the ancient coins, are appliquéd throughout the collection to add a traditional flare to the modern styles and cuts off the pieces. Another traditional Iranian element that can be found in the collection is the famous “bote jeghe” print that can be seen in the fabric that is used in several of the looks. The origin of this paisley print is deeply rooted in Iranian culture, and often connected to the clothing of high class nobility throughout the country. I believe that it is important to keep these beautiful elements of the culture alive in the contemporary world because, unfortunately, Iran’s positive and rich past has been overshadowed by its dark and heavy political present.

— Nahal Shad