Photo Courtesy of Stella Eleni & A la Mode & Zarya Azadi
Zarya Azadi is an entrepreneur, model, and activist. She is the only working Kurdish Top Model walking runway show worldwide. Writing history for being the first of her kind published in magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and Marie Claire to name a few. With a height of 6ft, she is currently the tallest Kurdish model on the runway. Zarya studied Management at Oxford Brookes University and decided to use fashion as a platform to raise awareness on social causes as she too belongs to an ethnic minority group, the Ezidis who were genocide by ISIS in 2014. After several years of social media, Zarya decided to return and started her own projects also highlighting racism and exploitation in the industry. Zarya attended Jimmy Choo’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the World Fashion Week in Paris and got inspired. She is an ambassador for NGO Mundo Cooperante and Co-founder of Girlup Kurdistan, a United Nation Foundation Initiative. In 2020 she launched her campaign, “Evolve Your Heritage” and published her editorial shoot “Red Ribbon” in various magazines. One of Zarya’s passions is representing Kurdish art and culture within the fashion and creating “The Hidden Beauty of Kurdistan” working with Kurdish designers. This year she showcased her own collection in collaboration with Carat23 during London Fashion Week. Zarya Azadi is a well-established ambassador and cooperates partner with Spanish NGO Mundo Cooperate. For years, she has immensely contributed to fighting against female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage, and forced marriage. Zarya’s initiative to eradicate fights against domestic violence and gender equality issues is reflected in her work through fashion walk in Milan, London, Paris, NY, LA, and Berlin. She recently launched a new campaign, “Evolve Your Heritage,” to shed old traditions and customs that hinder the development of women and young girls. Apart from being a driven philanthropist, she is also a thriving co-founder of Girl Up Kurdistan, a women-driven business, that empowers women to be independent and provide for their families. Her dedication and resilience have earned her worldwide reputation that continues to make strides in her field. Currently she is promoting the AZADI clothing line by Brusk Label in cooperation with the orphanage, Our Bridge e.V. in Khanke in Kurdistan. Part oft he sales will be donated to the Ezidi orphans who lost their parents during the genocide by ISIS in 2014. www.zaryaazadi.com
FWM: When did you discover your passion for the fashion world?
I discovered my passion for the fashion world when I was a teenager. I started modelling at age of 17 in Germany and continued in England during my studies. At first it was a hobby that I enjoyed doing. Over the cause of time, I have started to understand the industry more and the business side of it. It is a tough market, and you have to be thick skinned in order to follow your dreams.
FWM: Your heritage means everything to you. Share your background.
I am Kurdish and I have always loved my heritage and everything that describes our culture such as the food, music, dance, language, art, nature, and our history. We have a very colorful and diverse culture and almost all religions are represented. I personally belong to the religious minority group of the Ezidis. We are described as the first Kurds, like the natives of the country such as the aborigines of Australia or the Native Americans in the US. However, despite of a total population of almost 60 Mio Kurds worldwide we are still the largest nation in the world without an independent country.
FWM: How does it feel to be the only working Kurdish Top Model walking runway shows worldwide?
It is a weird feeling to be very honest with you as there has been not one time that I have had the opportunity to walk with another Kurdish model (female or male) during a fashion show. I have worked with creative people from all around the world and it was and still is a great experience learning about different cultures and ethnicities. I have made some real good friendships over the years with people from the fashion industry. Most of them never heard much about my heritage and this was a reason for me to use the fashion industry to highlight my art and culture. I like to continue my work of representing my heritage and culture in the fashion industry as I believe representation matters.
FWM: You have built a successful brand. What does it take to one of the world’s top models?
Work, work and more work (laughs). I mean the industry has never really been in favor of minorities let’s just be very honest here. Therefore, it was a lot of work for me thinking of continuing this profession as we are all artist in the end. You must attend shows and events worldwide to stay up to date and make new connections in the industry. This is the key element of working worldwide. Surround yourself with likeminded people who share the same vision as you to be able to create new projects. Meanwhile I am trying to pave the way for others from my heritage. Being called the only Kurdish Catwalk Top Model is an honor but it also shows that there needs to be more work done when it comes to diversity in the fashion industry.
FWM: You have been featured in Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and Marie Claire to name of a few. Who are your favorite designers?
Yes, indeed and I would love to continue being featured working for more designers (smiles). Working with RC Caylan Atelier for the publications in these magazines during Paris Fashion Week this year was a beautiful experience. I am grateful for the work we did together. I have worked with different designers over the years. What I love about them is the creativity, passion and the creation of their designs especially when it fits and feels comfortable it is a double win (laughs). There are so many talented designers out there from emerging designers to high fashion brands. I have been working with one of my close designer friends Odair Pereira from DAIR Design who has been featured in several big magazines himself including Vogue and has his own TV show called ‘Mind Your Business’ on FNL Network. I love working with him and love his collections as it always suits me well and feels very comfortable. He just knows what looks good on me.
Of course, I am a fan of the high fashion designers like e.g., Versace, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and Karl Lagerfeld as not only do they create amazing collections, but also deliver amazing fashion shows. I would love to be able to walk the catwalk for them too in the future.
FWM: Can you share one of your proudest moments of your career?
Being featured in these big fashion magazines makes me proud about myself. I have worked with a great team in Paris who flew in from around the world to be part of the RC Caylan Atelier Fashion Show and I am grateful for the opportunity. This allows me to speak about the lack of representation of Kurdish creatives in the fashion industry or at least to be identified as such. Me being featured in all these magazines was history making and it shows the hard work that I have put in over the years. Special thanks also to Regard Magazine from Los Angeles for making the introduction.
I am also very proud of my work of trying to get a group of Kurdish designers attending a fashion show in London last year. This was by far the hardest and most passionate work I have ever done as it has never been done before. I am trying in continuing this work in the future to represent our art and culture within the fashion industry.
FWM: Do you see acting in your future?
Only recently I have starting to think about acting in the future. I have been told by many in the industry that this would suit me well (smiles). I was told I would look good in strong and smart roles in drama like a badass lawyer or a crazy scientist, but I could also play funny roles for comedy as I have a great sense of humor. I really do not mind doing both as I am a big fan of e.g., Robert De Niro who switches his gangster roles and funny comedy roles which are both amazing performances. He masters it so well.
Photo Courtesy of Parlemeraude Photography
FWM: You are renowned Activist. Your initiative to eradicate fight against domestic violence and gender equality issues have been reflected in your work through fashion walk in Milan, London, Paris, NY, LA, and Berlin. Tell us more.
I am a strong believer of artists having the duty of reflecting the times just like the singer Nina Simone once said. As much as I love my heritage and my culture, there are still gender inequality issues towards women and the LGBTQ community. Our culture is still very traditional, and religion plays a big part of it that does not help women experiencing their own independent lives due to cultural oppression. I have taken the fashion industry as platform to raise awareness on these social causes with specific editorial photo shoots and creating a fashion collection “Red Ribbon” highlighting gender inequality. The power of art is a very strong tool to use to raise awareness and get people interested in wanting to understand more. Fashion is global and speak volumes without even saying anything.
FWM: What inspired you to create your first fashion collection ‘Jinên’ showcasing at Fashion Finest AW22 during London Fashion Week in Feb 2022?
Since I was preparing for a Kurdish fashion show in 2021, I got to work with a lot of talented Kurdish fashion designers. I had already created my own collection “Red Ribbon” to showcase equality for women and got more inspired to create a different collection to combine traditional Kurdish fabrics and patterns with modern style. My collection ‘Jinên’ was inspired by my culture. Using Kurdish colours, patterns and styles in a modern look. The showstopper dress included a traditional Kurdish head piece ‘Fes’ with golden jewelry. The collaborating with the Dutch handbag designer Carat23 added the newest styles of ‘the diamond, the rock and the baguette’ handbags which have been published in Vogue and Elle Magazines and worn on the red carpet by several celebrities like Megan Fox, Queen Latifah and Eve. Carolina Riffi Ollite the designer of Carat23 received the Timberland Best Green Handbag Award in New York for the new technology of the Carat23 handbags, thanks to a chance encounter with the rapper 50 cent. A new click system shortens the handles and prevents them from dragging on the floor. She has also successfully pitched her invention on the Dragon’s Den TV show in 2020. Please have a look for yourself (smiles).
Carat23 Link: https://www.carat23.com
Zarya Azadi Link: https://www.zaryaazadi.com
Fashion Finest Link: https://www.fashionsfinest.com/gallery/item/6371-carat23-zarya-azadi-feb-2022
FWM: Who would you like to work with in 2022?
I would like to work with a lot of brands in the industry. If I had to narrow it down to the top five it would be brands like L’Oreal, Chanel, Burberry, Victoria Secret and Cartier. This would cover almost everything within the fashion industry cosmetic, fashion, lingerie and jewelry. I would love to get the opportunity to show some representation within the bigger fashion market as representation matters. Now that I am saying this, I do need to give a big shout out to Rihanna for creating such beautiful collections for all type and shape of people. She’s really done a great job. Wouldn’t mind being part of one of her shows either (smiles).
FWM: What are your current projects/goals?
I am currently preparing for the fashion show in Milan including Kurdish fashion designers and Kurdish media and press. I am also planning an editorial photo shoot with an established photographer from Los Angeles in Kurdistan for this year.
Right now, I am promoting the new clothing line ‘AZADI’ by Brusk Label in collaboration with the orphanage Our Bridge e.V. in Khanke, Kurdistan. Part of the sales will be donated to the children who lost their parents due to the genocide by ISIS. T-Shirts are available online here: https://www.brusk.de
FWM: Please share your social media/video of show.
Enjoy the full video of my collection in collaboration with Dutch handbag designer Carat23 at the Fashion Finest AW22 during London Fashion Week on 19 February 2022.
https://cms.e.jimdo.com/app/s37613c6944ad9efa/pc44fa19cf8a3e73b/?cmsEdit=1
Instagram: @zaryaazadi
Website: www.zaryaazadi.com
Links to featured magazines
HARPE’S BAZAAR SPAIN
https://www.harpersbazaar.com/es/pasarelas/otono-invierno-2022-2023/g39383098/rc-caylan-atelier-f-2g/
ELLE ITALY
https://www.elle.com/it/sfilate/autunno-inverno-2022-2023/g39383142/rc-caylan-atelier-f-5-ru6/
MARIE CLAIRE ITALY
https://www.marieclaire.it/sfilate/autunno-inverno-2022-2023/g39383149/rc-caylan-atelier-s4i-rr/
FASHION MAGAZINE ITALY
https://www.fashionmagazine.it/front-row/PARIS-WOMEN-FW-22-23-RC-CAYLAN-ATELIER-19940
THE IMPRESSION
https://theimpression.com/rc-caylan-atelier-fall-2022-fashion-show/
WOMAN MADAME FIGARO
https://woman.elperiodico.com/amp/galerias/moda/rc-caylan-atelier-paris-mujer-otono-invierno-2022-2023 AMICA ITALY
https://www.amica.it/sfilata/rc-caylan-atelier/
