Today we’d like to introduce you to Gelareh Roudsari.
Hi Gelareh, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Art has been a big part of my being from my very first memories growing up in Iran. As a kid, I dreamt of helping people through art, but it took me a long time to figure out how I was adding value. In Iran, art school was not an option, so I went to college for psychology—my second choice. It wasn’t until I moved to the US where I was able to pursue fashion design at the Art Institute of California. 3D, sculpture, textural art and collage were the art forms that felt most natural and I worked with many different media including clay, metal and stone. As much as I adored sculpture, though, I still longed for something more practical and lucrative. So I challenged myself and pursued fashion, particularly wearable art.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Language, specifically verbal communication, has always been challenging. Spending 10 years of my childhood in a warzone, I experienced severe trauma paralysis and found solace in communicating with my hands as a way of processing my emotions and expressing myself. Working with my hands has become an important path of self-discovery. Moving to the US for art school with zero English also presented a whole new obstacle. The language barrier pushed me deeper into my creative process, for if I couldn’t articulate myself in a foreign language, I would channel my feelings and thoughts through vision and creative experimentation. I am also a dyslexic with ADHD—traits I see as superpowers—and of course not without their own challenges. Luckily, I have systems and workarounds that help me navigate when life feels extra.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
A lack of resources led me to experiment with modifying materials and creating my own textures. Having had a lot of success with these experiments, now there is a constant urge to experiment more and more. Intention and impact, these are my raison d’etre (reason for being). I didn’t realize it until later, but psychology plays a very significant role in my creative process because it informs the work and is, in a way, a mode of therapy and self-healing. My message is women’s empowerment, and the work is driven by purpose. I empowered myself through my work and coming from a place of powerlessness, I want to show all the youth in similar places what is possible. As I create wearable art that is like healing armor—tools that empower people who are ready for it—I am also connecting the past with the future and from this activation learning how to be a better human.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Fashion is always evolving, especially in the meaning it has for the wearer. Innovations in 3D manufacturing and textile engineering create a lot of opportunities to explore materials and structures I could not before. Also, a shift away from mass production to small batches is allowing for more intimate creative collaboration. How I treat my team is an extension of how I treat myself and the energy they transfer in their craft. I see them as creative collaborators. I believe they need to be happy to enjoy this creative process. We even have intention ceremonies before sending out each shipment. Intention and emotional vitality are big parts of how we run the business. It is nice to see more artisanal brands embracing a similar approach.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gelarehdesigns.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gelarehdesigns/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gelarehdesignsofficial/
Image Credits
1-Photog: @thegargaratchi Model @sheherazadedkh Hair @miwamoroki Makeup @sd_makeupart 2-Photog: @thegargaratchi Model @sheherazadedkh Hair @miwamoroki Makeup @sd_makeupart 3-Photographer Robert Mueller (@rjmueller) Model Rebecca Orschiedt (@rebecca_1055) Agency Model Pool (@modelpoolint) 4-Photo @otkidach Creative direction & Styling by May@maycortazzi Make up and hair by Juno @juno_makeupartist Model Daria @plotofdaria @e_yoha 5-Photo @diegofilm model @lilygatins Nails @curetnails MUA @julieta_deltoro 6-Photo: Anastasiya Otkidach @otkidach Model @lizaadamenko_ Rings @costumetherapy 7-Photo: Anastasiya Otkidach @otkidach Model @lizaadamenko_ Rings @costumetherapy 8-Photo Anastasiya Otkidach @otkidach Model @anya.shell Makeup @bovalli 9-Photographer @max_kinsky Models @aelirann @marleymoses_ 10-Photographer @max_kinsky Model @helen_hitori HM @sasha_hairstylist
