1Please give us a brief bio of yourself, your company, job profile, etc.
I am an architect-turned-fashion designer or rather landscape/urban draper.
2Tell us a bit about your business and what you do.
I draw attention to the beauty of the world from above and the commonalities we share as global citizens.
3Congratulations! As the winner of the 2019 Muse Awards, what does it mean to you and your company and team to receive this award distinction?
It reaffirms my mission of showcasing the beauty of the world and connecting the consumers to a product that has a special meaning to them by connecting their hearts and soul to a place they love or want to be connected to or to a make a difference in.
4Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2019 Muse Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?
The Cityzen by Azin collections are about sharing the commonalities we have as global citizens and celebrating the earth and various places around the world while drawing attention to some of the challenges we face.
The brand is about People, Places, and Purpose, merging fashion with social impact. It is about fashion with purpose and without borders and I thank the Muse judges for choosing to highlight the brand.
5What was the biggest challenge with this project?
To be able to get people to go beyond their prejudices and to see we are all one nation and one race.
6How has winning an Award developed your practice/career?
Every award, including the Muse Awards, reaffirms that there is a desire to bridge differences through the arts and that fashion can be a soft and powerful tool to make a statement in style and substance.
7What are your top three (3) favorite things about our industry?
-The universal attraction to beauty
-The power of communication and exposure
-The interconnectivity of the industry
8What makes your country specifically, unique in the creative industry?
I come from two very different, yet surprisingly similar countries that are at odds with each other for the last 40 years: Iran and US.
Iranians come from a strong tradition within the arts and particularly graphic arts and pattern making through its architecture for centuries. America has a strong tradition for higher education and appreciation and cultivation of the arts. I have tremendously benefitted from both traditions and through Cityzen, I hope to dispel misconceptions about the two places I love.
9Where do you see the evolution of creative industry going over the next 5-10 years?
Within the fashion industry and all consumer goods, the industry is moving more and more towards unique products that the consumer can identify with and feel that they are contributing towards. Products that make a difference or come with a story to tell.
With Cityzen, we raise awareness and funds towards a number of global issues and promote peace which resonates with our customers who are intellectual fashionistas!
10If you were a student entering this industry or an aspiring Muse Award submitter, what advice would you give them?
Believe in what you do and love and be passionate about it.
11What resources would you recommend to someone who wants to improve their skills in the creative industry?
Be open, and expose yourself to the resources that are out there and surround yourself with inspiring people.
12Tell us something you have never told anyone else.
There is not much that I have kept to myself. I would say accept your weaknesses and build on your strengths and find ways to supplement the weaknesses by joining forces with others who are better than you.
13Who has inspired you in your life and why?
Two architecture professors: Olivio Ferrari, and Raymond Abraham.
They both taught me to believe and trust my passion and that the education of an architect encompasses everything about life and what surrounds it in a poetic and profound way.
14What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?
Success is a relative term but I would say don’t give up faith as we all function like water, finding our own balance in life on our own terms no matter the outcome of our efforts. And never be regretful.