Interview: Ava Hashemi of Hâshé
Check out my recent interview with Ava Hashemi of Hâshé!
Céline 2013 (Left)-Hâshé 2012 (Right)
Shelby Hickox: Tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? What's your educational background?
Ava Hashemi: I grew up in Dubai and I went to school there. I just came to Boston for college. I was an engineering major at first, and then I figured that I wanted to take some courses in fashion school. So I went to the School of Fashion Design in Boston- I took a course there. I thought fashion design might be a potential career for me so I transferred to management school. Management goes better with fashion than engineering, you know? So I transferred into school of management my second year
SH: What does fashion mean to you?
AH: Fashion is basically my life because I wake up in the morning and I look at fashion blogs and fashion news first thing in the morning. To pass the time I watch fashion shows, I work in fashion, I plan on working in fashion so it’s basically my life. Some people say that appearance doesn’t mean a lot but whether you mean to or not you’re basically working in fashion unconsciously and dealing with fashion everyday –it’s a way of expressing yourself.
SH: How would you describe Boston’s fashion?
AH: There is a lot of room for upcoming designers because there’s not as much competition here in Boston as there is in Milan, New York and London, for example. But then again there’s only so much you can improve on here because the schools aren’t that good. I mean, they’re good for someone who wants to start from nothing, but if you want to grow big and be international there’s just not room here for that. There’s not a lot of potential here to get buyers. Boston’s good enough to just develop your passion and get a sense of how designing works but if you want to really pursue this career seriously, Boston wouldn’t be the ideal place.
SH: How did you get into fashion?
AH: I’ve been designing since I was in 9th grade but it was just something I did for myself-I would just design something myself if I couldn’t find it and take it to my tailor to get it made. In ‘09 I started making clutches-two or three for myself, and wherever I went people would ask me where I bought it from-so I got the idea to make my own. That was a huge success. At first it was mainly just family and friends. Then after a little while I started doing a lot of trench coats and stuff like that. After some time in Boston I made a collection all by myself-sewing and everything-which ended up being very successful. Over the summer I started my line in Dubai- I got tailors, PR people and all of that to help.
SH: Where do you sell your clothing right now?
AH: Right now, only by orders and I do a trunk show every year. I’ve also designed a ready-to-wear collection for Karmaloop- I’m doing the paper work for that now.
SH: Where do you want to take your designs?
AH: After graduation I’m going to Dubai and hopefully expanding my line there
SH: What is the favorite article of clothing you have ever designed?
AH: My favorite piece so far is a peplum blouse that I designed. I was looking at NYFW collections and I saw Céline’s peplum blouse and I was shocked because it looked identical to a piece I made last year- so I was like oh my God, Céline has a piece just like mine! So for now that’s my favorite piece so far.
SH: Who are some of your favorite designers?
AH: One of my favorite designers is Ulyana Sergeenko- she’s my recent favorite because she has such a new, fresh take on couture that I really admire. She incorporates her culture into her designs. She’s the new “it” couture fashion designer- I think she has such a unique design that’s such a reflection of her as a person and her background and her culture.
SH: What are some of your favorite clothing stores in Boston?
AH: I like Pinkyotto a lot because they select pieces that are young but at the same time sophisticated – there’s always something you end up liking. I love BCBG too!
SH: How would you describe your line?
AH: Exclusive pieces. All hand-made for women who like to look sophisticated but at the same time feel sexy.
SH: What are some of your fashion goals?
AH: Definitely to expand my line-I’m opening my own workshop when I go back to Dubai. I already have the space rented out, and hopefully just get into some major department stores that I feel are more in line with what I do. My dream store to carry my line would be Bergdorf!
SH: Where can readers buy your clothes/jewelry?
AH: I’m going to have a trunk show soon-but they can always Facebook message me on my Hâshé page, or they can just email me at: hashemi.ava90@gmail.com
