Interview about Sarban Leather Bag, winner of the A' Fashion and Travel Accessories Design Award 2024
Sarban is inspired by an Iranian architectural structure called the Sarban Minaret, which carries a message of peace. This is because the minaret is located in a neighborhood where three different religions live peacefully together. This product is not just a bag, it is a piece of Iranian culture that you can have with you. The patterns on the minaret are executed on the bag in the most minimal way possible.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsOne of my interests in design is drawing inspiration from Iranian art and culture. In this context, architecture has served as an important source for my work "Sarban." I began by designing lines inspired by the brick muqarnas found in the neck of this minaret, analyzing their shapes. I then arranged these analyzed shapes together and, through methods of trial and error, arrived at a suitable pattern. Ultimately, I transformed this final volume into the shape of a bag, aiming to preserve its beauty while creating a functional product. I believe that art should not be limited to visual arts; even the tools we use in our daily lives can be considered works of art.
In fact, I am not directly discussing religion or having a religious message in this design. My intention in bringing up this issue is to illustrate that just as people of different faiths can coexist peacefully in a neighborhood surrounding this minaret, this approach can be applied to all aspects of life, allowing us to achieve peace with ourselves and others. This inner peace ultimately leads to social harmony. Therefore, the main topic I addressed by using religion as an example was the transmission of a message of peace. For me, this minaret can symbolizes peace, as it is situated in a place where the people around it have understood the concept of peace.
I didn't use any specific technique that has been used before for the execution of "Sarban." In most of my works that convey a special concept, I employ techniques that I have created myself. For this reason, I often hear from my audiences that they cannot replicate my designs exactly. The techniques I use in my leatherwork are specifically developed for my own designs, and this process brings me a lot of joy. Essentially, creativity should not be limited to design; one can also be creative in the choice of techniques for a specific material.
It's very interesting that you used the word "journey." This is because, for each of my designs, I embark on an inner journey into my subconscious to reach the deepest layers of my being. In that moment, I can connect with my work and engage in a kind of conversation with it. When I started designing "Sarban," I explored its history as a beacon to guide caravans. This led me to a journey into the desert, where I witnessed moving caravans accompanied by their camels. Choosing camel leather was the deepest connection I could establish with this piece in terms of material selection. For me, choosing the right materials with appropriate color schemes is one of the essential pillars in presenting a work of art.
I have been working in the field of handmade leather bag design and production for about thirteen years. From the very beginning of my journey, alongside my passion for the art and culture of my country, I learned to express my interests, concerns, and inner feelings through the combination of leather and design. In fact, leather and design are the alphabet of my dialogue with the outside world. Therefore, it is very natural for me to depict my admiration for Iranian architecture in the form of a leather bag. After all, every person who works in the field of art showcases their art in some way, and I have a deep understanding of the language of leather and connect with it because it originates from nature and ultimately returns to it.
What an interesting question! In fact, I have a strong interest in the relationship between past and contemporary art, and I oppose mere imitation of traditional art. However, I also emphasize the importance of preserving the essence of traditional art. I believe that the integration of traditional and modern art should not disrupt the value and status of traditional art, and I am glad that you understood this point.overall, summarizing the old motifs of the Sarban minaret while maintaining its historical significance was a very delicate part of designing the Sarban bag. I needed to determine which elements to preserve and which to eliminate in order to achieve a minimal format that would not overshadow the composition and original value of the structure. The technique of summarization is something I learned in art school, and I started this process by summarizing the motifs of Persian carpets to create a visual logo. In fact, since my teenage years, I have been trained in summarization through my studies in graphic design.
As I mentioned earlier, I am very interested in placing functional items within the category of fine arts. Many times, due to the inherent practicality of bags, I am not allowed to participate in fine arts exhibitions, simply because the primary nature of bags has always been their functionality. The fusion of leather bags with art is a pioneering move for me, as I aim to change the perception that bags can only be functional. All functional items can be transformed into dual-purpose objects by integrating design.
Creating handmade works has its own difficulties and challenges, and it is truly not an easy task. However, I personally prefer slow fashion to fast fashion. This is because it promotes production at a balanced pace, which helps preserve the environment. Contrary to the belief of many who think that using natural leather harms the environment, I believe that excessive and inappropriate use of this material is what causes damage. Throughout history, humans have used this material in a justified and measured way, and this practice not only does not cause harm but can also be seen as a form of recycling. If all these animal hides were to return to nature, it would not have the capacity to decompose them at that speed. Therefore, my biggest challenge in handmade production, while maintaining authenticity in material selection, is changing society's perception of leather. I strive to make them aware of the reality that using natural leather appropriately is much more logical than using synthetic leather made from plastic bases.
In general, my main focus is on the profound concepts that a piece of art, in the form of a leather bag, can convey. This is exactly the case with the "Sarban" product. It transcends being merely a functional item and embodies a message of peace, showcasing the peaceful nature of an Iranian. My entire effort is to use the language of art to introduce my country, Iran, to other nations and to correct the misconceptions that have formed about Iran.Cultural exchange between countries can have a significant impact in various fields, especially in fashion, which serves as one of the channels for international communication.
My advice to these artists is to adopt a dual perspective when drawing inspiration from architectural heritage for their designs. This means examining architectural structures both from a physical and a spiritual standpoint. For example, I used the forms of minarets for the physical structure of the Sarban bag, but for its inner concept, I drew upon the spiritual aspects of the neighborhood it represents, such as peace and the history of that area. Architectural structures can be likened to the human body. The human body is considered a flawless design, but when we place the spiritual and physical aspects together as a cohesive whole and bring these two dimensions into balance, we can create a perfect artistic work inspired by architecture. This body is defined by two dimensions: the spiritual and the physical.
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