Iranian-American Fashion Star Draws Inspiration From Persia
Leila Yavari, an Iranian-American former model turned fashion director, spoke with Al-Monitor's Sophie Claudet about her career, which began during a Berkeley Ph.D. program; the art scene in Iran; bridging the Eastern and Western fashion worlds and drawing inspiration from her Persian roots.
PARIS — Al-Monitor met on the sidelines of Paris’ fashion week with Leila Yavari — an Iranian-American former political science Ph.D. student at Berkley turned fashion model, turned fashion director for StyleBop.com. The stunning young woman was born in Iran in 1978. A year later, she left with her family during the revolution that toppled the Shah and gave birth to the Islamic Republic. She talked about her trip back to Iran as young adult and her Persian heritage, which informed both her professional choices and esthetics. She would love for Iran to be known beyond the news, as an art-loving country. Read her interview:
Al-Monitor: You left Iran as a baby, have you been back since?
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