Couture between two worlds

Persian women are known for their dignified beauty and strong personality, which stems from the significant role they had in the society of Ancient Persia. Having read a lot about such women makes me really curious about meeting Lida Nobakht, a fashion designer, born in Iran and currently working in Zurich.

Lida smiles at my attempt to call her a young designer. After all, she’s been designing Haute Couture for more than 10 years. What she doesn’t know, though, is my genuine admiration for her vibrant curiosity and enthusiasm, her eagerness to start and live her days in constant search and devotion to her work. This is why I can’t help it but think of her as a “young” designer.

“I take fashion very personal and yet I know it is global because it speaks too many” says Lida. A few months ago someone advised her that she would be much more understood in Paris where people would wear her clothes not just at events, but on the street. In Switzerland women just don’t express that much through fashion thinks Lida and despite their high standards of living, clothes seem not to matter much. Lida sees women here like minimalism, but for her, it feels cold and direct. She likes detailed and elaborate clothing. She likes feminine and sensual dressing and it is hard to believe but she hardly ever wears jeans.

“People in Teheran love fashion. They support Iranian designers and make a lot of research when it comes to style. They just make a lot more effort despite or may be because there are so many restrictions about what to wear.” Tells me Lida about her homeland. Her country’s traditions and culture is a constant source of inspiration. Lida translates architectural lines, memories, stories and colours into garments. She uses high quality materials from Apropos and Fabric Frontline as well as fabrics from Teheran to make her unique couture pieces.

Lida was born in the family of a photographer and a tailor. From her mother she learned the basics of sewing. Later she studied tailoring and fashion design in Teheran. What we call a turning point in life for Lida was the day when her teacher at school called her in front of the whole class and said that one day she will become a fashion designer. Ever since that day Lida lives these words. Her most important lesson was training her eyes for the details. Even today she still believes: “When it’s really really hard for you, then there is something amazing coming out”.

Lida was born in the family of a photographer and a tailor. From her mother she learned the basics of sewing. Later she studied tailoring and fashion design in Teheran. What we call a turning point in life for Lida was the day when her teacher at school called her in front of the whole class and said that one day she will become a fashion designer. Ever since that day Lida lives these words. Her most important lesson was training her eyes for the details. Even today she still believes: “When it’s really really hard for you, then there is something amazing coming out”.

Yet Lida is always looking for ways to connect the East and the West and she is constantly researching modern designers. One of her favourites is Dries Van Noten, thanks to whom she has gathered the confidence to start working with patterns. Stay tuned for LIDA NOBA Fall 2015 collection. In the meantime Young Park asked the designer a few more questions about her work:

Young: What brought you first into contact with fashion?
Lida Nobakht: The school of design and tailoring in Iran. When I was 15 years old, I met my fashion design teacher for the first time and she was the one who inspired me to pursue that dream. I always loved creating. I was and (still am) a person who had to make things. But I didn’t know that creation is call fashion back then.

Young: Who is your fashion mentor?
L. N. My two teachers from the School of Design and Tailoring in Iran – Ms. Ghadiri and Ms. Nahid Salimi. The most inspiring story in the world of fashion for me is the one from Coco Chanel. I truly believe in her story.

Young: What is fashion for you?
L.N. A manner of living, it is in everything, the way you organize your books, your home and how you dress up for a big ceremony.

Young: How do women in Switzerland find your pieces?
L.N. What I find about people here is that they’re not really open to try new brands, and new styles. For a new designer it’s not easy to break through. Especially nowadays I see the formula to success in the fashion world is 10%talent and 90% connections. IT could be discouraging but you still do it. In bigger cities like Zürich and Geneva people have more taste for expressing their individuality and looking for unique pieces. They are more open and not afraid to bend the rules. So women who dare to be more adventurous are my clients!

Young: How do you interpret Haute Couture?
L.N. Haute Couture is high quality and artwork. It has to do a lot with attention to details, sometimes to extreme manner.

Young: Can you describe your creative process?
L. N. I try to bring all that I see and all that I have in my mind on paper. Still not always this is possible because for me is important to touch and feel the fabric. Sometimes this is what sparks an idea and starts the creative process. Sketching is the fancy part. When I choose the idea to develop, I start searching and learning what could match with my vision. After that, I make a sample of each piece and then a series of changes will follow until I’m satisfied with the design entirety.

Young: What theme have you chosen for your fall and winter collection this year?
L.N. For the first time I’m trying to use fabrics with patterns. There are pieces that women can wear to work and easily transform into an evening dress just wearing a pair of high heels.

Young: Who are the modern designers you look up to?
L.N. Of course! Dries Van Noten, Celine, Marc Jacobs and Lanvin.