Opening the FDI Düsseldorf graduate show at La Galerie Bourbon, during this season’s Haute Couture Week in Paris, Kimia Motamedi‘s spectacular collection stood out like a fever dream of culture clash.
The 25-year-old designer comes from Iran, which as she tells us herself, is a country that holds thousands of years of artistic heritage. Yet it’s not the grand palaces of Isfahan or the intricate patterns of Persian carpets that define her work. Instead, Kimia draws from the raw, often painful experience of being uprooted and replanted onto German soil.
“Moving to Germany led to significant identity crises,” Kimia recalls. “I felt lost and disconnected from my roots. Starting over in a new country left me feeling like nobody, unsure of how to behave or what to wear.” This sentiment of displacement is sewn into her garments by drawing inspiration from her childhood outfits, Bold, angular shoulders reminiscent of power suits clash with the soft, playful elements of children’s wear. A-line dresses, typically associated with young girls, are reimagined with adult proportions.
“many of which were lovingly sewn by my mother.” she says.
Bold, angular shoulders reminiscent of power suits clash with the soft, playful elements of children’s wear. A-line dresses, typically associated with young girls, are reimagined with adult proportions.
But it’s in the details where Kimia’s talent truly shines. Scraps of traditional Persian fabrics are incorporated into modern silhouettes like bomber jackets and blazers. The effect is jarring, almost violent—like static interrupting a clear signal. “I incorporate [these elements] in a way that mimics a noise or disruption effect,” Kimia explains. “It’s the visual representation of cultural interference.”
The materials Kimia employs are as diverse as her influences from childhood. Nylon rubs shoulders with twill, fur nestles against crepe georgette. Colors oscillate between stark off-whites and deep grays, punctuated by bursts of multicolored shine. It’s also a tactile representation of the immigrant experience—rough edges softened by time, dull moments illuminated by flashes of cultural pride.
As Kimia tells it, “this collection is a sanctuary for those who feel lost or are grappling with identity crises, as I did. It serves as a second skin, allowing them to merge modern garments with a touch of their heritage, blending elements from childhood and adulthood, while feeling confident and taking the time to rediscover themselves.”
While emerging designers often have to move to London and Paris to make their mark in the fashion world, Kimia has succeeded against the odds in turning heads with her graduate collection, bridging the gap between her Persian roots and a European present.
Photography: Amira Toleimat, Models: Annika Rose, Mia Bennett, Alma Merith, Sarah, Liliana