You like?

We do!

In fact: we love!

Throughout time, Persian patterns have remained of the most enlightened, delicate, and precisely-detailed in the world…And we simply adore seeing more and more  parts of our often-unmentioned culture so smartly inserted into the mainstream market. (In this case; urban playgrounds, empty pools, and skateboard ramps.)

Eric Esmailzadeh Parnes’s newest creation and usable product(s): “Boards of Iran,” easily double as figurative flying carpets. (Pending upon how fast you can board.)

These beautiful urban pieces finally allow us to step (even with our dirtiest sneakers) on such recherché prints found mostly on the best of silk Persian rugs, guilt free.

“The geometric designs and intrinsic beauty of Persian rugs is well known and has been a coveted item both in the East, and West. It was only natural that these designs were chosen.” Says Parnes of his inspiration for the skateboards. ”I recreated the designs from a vast selection of different styles of rugs, and tried to portray the subtle hand crafted imperfections that make them special.”

Parnes who skateboards “in theory” because it “would either ruin the beauty of the design, or [his] body,” humorously tells us that he made this product for “rug dealers, and naturally, their children.”

I suppose it’s fair to disclose I have family that own a rug store, as well as family friends who do. (But then again who doesn’t.) I would love to set up a skateboard shop in a Bazaar as a art concept.” Adds the New York-based Iranian artist. ”It’s out there so that anyone who likes it gets it.”

Click here to purchase your own board or contact:  info@ericrobertparnes.com for more info.

L to R, Photo: Michelle Blioux, Model; Zadasha White - Amy Sarabi - Artwork by Amy Sarabi--All images courtesy of Lifetime

Seems like it was just last season (season six to be exact) that we got our fix of “Iranians on TV”–via the tiny Persian designer, Shirin Askari–on Lifetime’s Project Runway.

Wait…it was.

But now, there’s a new Persian girl–who’s also (originally) from Texas like her predecessor–to watch on the show of shows in Fashion, Iranian-American fashion designer: Amy Sarabi.

“My parents came to the United States in 1979.” Sarabi tells us. ”They landed in Texas where they attended Graduate School. I spent the majority of my childhood growing up in Plano, Texas: I have an older brother, Shahin and an older sister Shiva.”

The 26 year-old designer’s fascination with fashion emerged early in life: “I was always buying garments and turning them into something else, I have a vivid memory of myself standing in front of my mother’s mirror at about 6 years old putting a nightgown on the wrong way intentionally and wearing it as a little jacket.”

Already placing in the “Best 3″ category on her Project Runway scorecard for her  unconventional approach to simplicity while remaining authentic to the texture, look, and earthy color pallete of the delicious burlap creation she sent down the runway on Episode 2: The Fashion Farm, Amy’s had a stellar start on Project Runway this season.

And although she may not have enough time to “make things for [herself]” to wear, we’re confident that the “silk organza”-loving, and progressively artful honarmand (artist), Amy Sarabi will in no time be a respected voice in the fashion world, and rule her scene. (As most Persian women seem to naturally do.)

A true Persian girl at heart, Amy admits to us that her own personal style consists  of wearing “a lot of  black.” Her design aesthetic, however,  is far from being monochromatic. It’s rich and kaleidoscopic.

Enjoy Persianesque Magazine’s exclusive interview with  the fashion-theory-au-fait and forward-focused, global design-house-in-the-making source: Amy Sarabi. Read the full story

Iranian-American Actress and Author: Shiva Rose, Original Photo; En Luce

Daughter of perpetual-Iranian-TV-personality, Gharib Afshar, the Persian beauty who says she’s “not going to be the cougar in mini-skirts” and is yearning for “suits for the first time in [her] adult life”, Shiva Rose doesn’t just write human rights essays for the Huffington Post.

“A certain dress only serves to remind me of eating petites fraises with my ex, Dylan, in Provence, and more acutely, of how moments like that are gone.” She whimsically reminisces.

Read the full story

Participating in a design contest for long-time luggage-makers Samsonite, Iranian Industrial Designer, Pouyan Mokhtarani, creates the Smart Baby Case.

The inspiration behind his creation? The simple and “elliptical shape” of a common food source amongst Iranians: the egg. 

“The embryo of most creatures live in an elliptical space in their early sperm life.” Says Mokhtarani. ”My unique elliptical baby case, ‘Smart Baby Case’, is equipped with some primary and essential features that provide a safe and healthy environment for infants to grow in, allowing parents to be more productive while enjoy raising up their infants.”

Read the full story

Multifaceted Iranian designer Arash and his partner Kelly, continue to release works that are smart and functional under their trendy brand: ArashandKelly. 

Their latest creation, the Genius Pad, is the result of their collaboration with a man whom they both consider ”inspirational”, Bremley Lyngdoh.

Lyngdoh runs Worldview Impact, a company dedicated to protecting the environment and biodiversity through the mitigation of climate change, enabling local economic growth through the creation of sustainable livelihoods and supporting social development through poverty reduction initiatives. Read the full story

L to R, Shirin Askari working on the dress that got her eliminated from Project Runway, Tim Gunn & Shirin Askari in the workroom -- Images via LifetimeTV

We know that you’re just as disappointed as we are about Iranian designer, Shirin Askari’s early departure from Project Runway’s sixth season, on episode 9 (Sequins, Feathers and Fur, Oh My!) of the show on LifetimeTV.

It was a shock for Iranian viewers to see the talented young designer get eliminated far before it was her due time to go. (We were  actually anticipating watching her showcase her designs at the coveted Fashion Week show and season finale of Project Runway.)

Read the full story

Arash and Kelly, Big Clip

Time flies!
 
It’s been 10 years since the launch of ArashandKelly’s Big Clip, the giant paperclip magazine holder.

To mark the occasion they have created a special edition to celebrate.

The exclusive 10 year Anniversary matt black big clips are currently on sale, and as an anniversary present, ArashandKelly have decided to treat you to a free Genius Pad and a free neon-green Illuminati poster when you order matt black clips through this mailing list offer. (This is definitely a treat, not a trick!)

*The Big Clip halloween promotion Shipping rates are for U.K. customers, for customers outside the U.K. please contact ArashandKelly first to check the shipping charge to your country.

Original Image: The CW

Having worked with an almost never-ending list of Hollywood celebrities, master-photographer Firooz Zahedi made a cameo last night on  Tyra Banks’ model-grooming show: America’s Next Top Model (ANTM). The girls’ directive for the episode was not just to strike a pose, but to smeyes (smiling with your eyes) on the racetrack with their shot-props: a horse and jockey.

“Softer, softer. Lighten up.” The seasoned Zahedi told 22-year-old contestant Courtney who was given the boot by the judges (which also included The Hills’ Lauren Conrad).

Read the full story

Background Image: Pantea Karimi, Connected, 2009

Traces of Being: Iran in the Passage of Memories explores the primacy of personal memory against a backdrop of divergent cultural experiences and collective histories. These memories capture more than moments in time-they bear witness to unprecedented change and inspire new interpretations of the past, which, in the end, create Traces of Being.

This exhibition, [will be held in Los Angeles and] curated by Shervin Shahbazi, features new mixed media and installation-based works by Pantea Karimi, Hushidar Mortezaie, Amitis Motevalli, and Fereshteh Toosi.

Read the full story

Any fashion-conscious eye who has had a chance to see sharply fashion-savvy Iranian women in all their haute couture galore around the world (especially in Tehran), knows that Iranians are by far of the most fashionable sect on the planet. (In fact Iranians single-handedly made summer 2009, an inspiring and fiercely-emotional-yet-green one.)

Now we’re delighted to introduce you to the first Iranian fashion designer, Shirin Askari, on the show of shows in fashion: Project Runway.

In the words of Project Runway’s gorgeous German host, Heidi Klum: “In fashion, one day you’re in, and the next day… you’re out.” And we believe that as long as the fresh-faced designer continues to “make it work” a la’ Tim Gunn’s request, Shirin is sure to be in for a long time to come.

Read the full story

Original Photos: LifetimeTV

Be sure to watch Project Runway’s season six premiere tonight, August 20th, on Lifetime at 10 pm et/pt, or you’ll miss the very sweet Persian treat: contestant Shirin Askari.

Read the full story

Left, Style&co. “Persia” Sandal – Right, Calvin Klein “Persia” Sandal

You like?

Read the full story

Looking for a place to buy cool t-shirts?

Then check out DigitalGravel, an online store that carries so many designs… we stopped counting.

Read the full story

By Rosanna Akhavan-Merhebi

Accessories are vital in bringing life to any outfit.  Accessories can add color, style and create a certain look you want to achieve.  My personal favorite is accessorizing with jewelry, but not just any jewelry, an up and coming designer Mona Assemi. She designs an array of unique and stylish pieces to compliment any look.   

Read the full story