Meet designer Farnaz Abdoli
We are thrilled to introduce Farnaz Abdoli, an inspiring fashion designer and activist, as an Artists at Risk (AR) resident. Abdoli’s journey is one of extraordinary courage and creativity. Once celebrated as one of Iran’s most renowned designers, she was forced to flee her home in 2017 after being sentenced to five years in prison for creating clothing deemed “contrary to Islamic morals.”
Abdoli’s vibrant designs, adding colour and life to traditional Iranian fashion, sparked both admiration and condemnation. Her boutiques were closed, her shows banned, and her work even displayed in parliament as a “threat to Islam and the regime.” Faced with unimaginable pressure, she chose freedom over silence, leaving everything behind to start anew.
Now in AR-Residence, Abdoli has reclaimed her voice and vision. Her latest collection, The Splendor of Anahita, celebrates resilience, femininity, and strength, inspired by the Iranian goddess of wisdom and power. Present in her designs are metallic hues, intricate lace, and traditional fabrics that are crafted with southern Iranian women that tell a story of empowerment and cultural pride.
Read more about her journey in Ouest France: https://www.ouest-france.fr/pays-de-la-loire/le-mans-72000/creatrice-condamnee-en-iran-elle-sexile-au-mans-soit-je-repartais-de-zero-soit-je-me-tuais-2c22f844-a0f6-11ef-b119-2c8e787cc364
Abdoli has been working on her designs at her current residency at the Centre Dramatique National de Normandie in Vire, and in the future will continue to charm France and the rest of Europe with her designs. Scroll through the pictures to see the pictures she has shared with AR.
