Vancouver Fashion

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Avant-Garde Meets Retro at Maryam Fashion

August 11th, 2010 | Published in Designers

Words and photos by Alexia Anastasiou.

A door chime rings as I enter Maryam Fashion. I get the impression it’s not so much to notify her you’ve arrived as it is to tell you that you’ve just entered her world. A world of colour, print, fashion, and the unexpected. Right away, I can see why this store is a favourite of Vancouver’s boho chic.

With the chimes come owner Maryam Asgari’s equally musical, warm greeting, almost a cry of excitement. Knowing Maryam, I know this is not just for me; this is the genuine excitement she feels seeing almost anyone open the front door to her store.

Before we settle in to talk, I take a look around the store. An eclectic mix of clothes, jewellery, hats, bags and belts fill the small space. Orderly, beautiful chaos. My greedy eyes don’t know where to rest, trying to find and see everything.

Maryam was born in Iran and has lived in Canada since 1997. She opened her store, Maryam Fashion, in 2004. She designs mostly dresses, skirts, day and evening robes, and jackets. Her garments are feminine and colourful. A halter neckline, a backless dress, or a sheer evening robe give her ethnic and hippy-inspired garments a touch of sexy. Maryam creates her signature designs with pieces of fabric from a variety of sources, from auctions and garage sales to friends and trips back to Iran. As such, each garment is entirely unique and one-of-a-kind.

Maryam gets inspiration for her designs both from Canada and her native Iran. When asked about Canada, she talks mostly about its iconic landscape and the accompanying colour palette: “Colour is so important to me. Green was introduced to me in Canada In Iran, we had to wear all black”. It’s clear to see that Maryam is making up for lost time, using a combination of bright rich hues in almost all of her designs. From Iran, her inspiration is the artisanship and hand-made fabrics. On several garments, Maryam uses original pieces of hand-made, embroidered Persian material paired with new, modern fabrics. For the vintage fashion junkies, these are invaluable!

Maryam’s designs are not for wallflowers. When she thinks about her clientele, she insists it is impossible to group them into a specific demographic group. However, Maryam has noticed that the women who return to buy her clothes are usually creative and either work or play in an artistic field, whether it is theatre, music, or fashion. After more thought, she adds, “There is a common thread among them; they must be brave and self-confident because they will get noticed—and people will comment!”

An eclectic collection of jewelry and accessories fill out the store. For this, Maryam offers a mix of beads, precious stones, and jewels sourced internationally to make her pieces unique. Maryam is all about reusing what’s already out there and combining the old with the new. Every garment has a story. Maryam is giving it a makeover and a second chance at life. She adds, “I enjoy this every day I do it. Every piece is like a painting I create, and when I can share it, it’s breathtaking.” With such enthusiasm and passion for both her clothes and her customers, it’s impossible not to feel great at Maryam’s. Her energy is infectious and her approach honest and sincere.

When asked about the future, Maryam says she’ll continue to do what she’s always done: bright, unmistakable, eye-catching fashion, in the hopes that the city will catch up. She finishes by saying: “People misunderstand me, they wonder if this is a consignment store. But artistic people never question me; they inspire me and give me courage to continue.”

Visit Maryam at her shop, Maryam Fashion, located at 1871 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC.

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