As we celebrate International Women's Month, it’s only fitting to spotlight Nicki Zand, the Iranian designer redefining contemporary fashion for young women everywhere. Known for her masterful corset designs, Zand effortlessly merges the elegance of traditional Persian patterns with the sleekness of modern fashion, creating pieces that are as versatile as they are captivating.

I had the honor of interviewing this incredible designer alongside my sister-in-law, who was the first to introduce me to the brand N to Z in the first place. It felt only fitting to have two very inspirational women in my life speaking together for this piece in honor of celebrating the holiday properly. Wanting to represent my heritage and the beautiful designs coming out of Iran today, we chose to conduct the interview in Farsi. For those who want to dive deeper into Zand’s world, you can enjoy reading the interview below.

A Cultural Mosaic in Fashion

Zand’s work is a love letter to her Persian roots, intricately weaving motifs inspired by Persian carpets, tile work, and calligraphy into her collections. The delicate balance of these elements with minimalist cuts and contemporary silhouettes results in garments that tell a story—rich in history yet unmistakably current. Her corsets, in particular, have become a signature, offering a fresh take on a classic garment by making them adaptable for both day and night looks. She has also expanded her designs into beautiful, decorative flare pants as well as two-piece bridal looks.

Craftsmanship Meets Modernity

Each corset Zand designs is a masterpiece of craftsmanship. The precision in stitching, choice of fabrics, and the thoughtful placement of patterns highlight her dedication to detail, which she speaks to in her interview with us. Her ability to craft pieces that mold effortlessly to the body without compromising comfort is a testament to her skill and deep understanding of the female form. Zand’s designs invite wearers to embrace both the regal aura of traditional Persian art and the bold confidence of modern street style.

Empowering Through Design

For Zand, fashion is more than just clothing—it's a means of empowerment. Her collections celebrate femininity in all its forms, encouraging women to embrace their dualities: strength and softness, tradition and rebellion. Some designs are more edgy with leather and studded straps while others are made with delicate satin bows. By reviving traditional patterns and giving them a modern twist, Zand not only preserves her cultural heritage but also reinterprets it for a new generation. She highlights what it means to be in your divine feminine; whether that is to be adventurous and bold, or to be mysterious and classy.

Looking Forward

As Nicki Zand continues to expand her collections, her vision remains clear: to create fashion that bridges cultures and time periods while empowering the wearer. Her ability to merge the past and present with such finesse makes her a standout in today’s fashion landscape.

Here at detour, we aim to feature music and fashion globally, shining a light on creators like Zand who are pushing boundaries. Be sure to check out Zand's work on Instagram and support her brand!

Keep an eye on this designer—her story is only just beginning.

Now for our Interview:

(Ghazal): We know that in the dazzling world of fashion, every fabric has a story and every stitch is an untold poem, today with Nicki. An Iranian designer woman residing in Italy who has created a new style with Iranian culture and Italian fashion, we are talking about the brand N to Z. You will be hearing from Nicki on her professional path, inspirations, and challenges of dear Nicki in creating this brand. We are happy to have the opportunity to talk to you, let’s start from the beginning, what brought you to the world of fashion, how and when did you start?

(Nicki): I have been very interested in it since childhood, as well as in other fields of study, and when I went to Italy and studied medicine, oh. After two years, I decided to give up medicine.And after the first two years, it became unbearable. I was studying, oh, then suddenly the conditions became very difficult for me, and after two years, I decided to drop out and go to Milan and pursue. The other field I was always very interested in, since I was a child, I used to sew clothes for my barbies from fabrics that I had. My grandmother knew sewing and whenever she sewed, I sat next to her. I always tried to play with the fabrics and materials she used. I went to Italy, I went to Milan and studied technology of art, which was originally related to art, but it didn’t relate to me that much and very it wasn’t clear that I liked it, but now that I look back at it, I see that it really gave me something for the path I am currently taking. That I am now going through hasn’t been completely useless; after all, I studied fashion design and entered the world. I then got my masters in fashion and started my work in the fashion world.

(Ghazal): Do you have any designers who inspire you? We always train our eyes in the world of fashion to find what style we like. Do you have someone who inspires you, whether in the past or in the contemporary era?

(Nicki): The design that I always have in brand N to Z is more than just a place where it started; it has been a fusion between tradition and modernity, for this reason. Designs like McQueen or Yves Saint Laurent were those who always had storytelling or merged with modernity. I really love their work; among recent designers I love Jacquemus, because they are very minimal, but at the same time, they always put details that surprise people.

(Ghazal): If you wanted to define your brand story, what would you say that is?

(Nicki): My brand story is very long, I mean if we want to get into it, it's very lengthy because I am a very meticulous and idealistic person, and I feel that during the years I have worked in many different positions, like I worked as a salesperson and then as a stylist, then as a visual merchandiser, I worked as an influencer, I had a concept store, so I mean I had all of these positions, and I know the concerns of all the people in this fashion world. I feel that those years when I worked with very big brands like Valentino, Ferrari, Armani, and these years that I got to know these products closely and touch them. It has given me a certain obsession in choosing fabrics and the quality of sewing and other things. I really wanted the brand N to Z to distribute a product that, was exactly like the years when luxury goods imports were banned in Iran, and I wanted to have a product for girls of our age that is hard for them to access, meaning they cannot obtain this product from outside Iran anymore, so I had to do something for them, the people inside Iran. Gradually, I myself, for three years as an influencer, I had a very famous online multi-brand shop. After these three years, every week for example, they would send me three or four looks to photograph, and I saw all the Iranian products of all brands. I was seeing what products exist and what products we lack, so I tried to design something, a product that I want to produce that is really not available in Iran and we lack it because usually everyone was making t-shirts and I had seen fewer people wanting to design a corset for them.

(Ghazal): So based on the story you told, the brand was born in Tehran, right?

(Nicki): Yes, it is still produced here.

(Ghazal): I thought you started from Milan.

(Nicki): Yes, it was born in Tehran and it is still produced here. If it was produced in Milan the pricing would have differed greatly. But the fabrics and materials we use are sourced from all over the world.

(Ghazal): If you wanted to view the fashion industry from the perspective of an Iranian woman who works almost globally, especially in Italy, in Marbella, what were the challenges you faced?

(Nicki): The challenges we have in Iran, as a woman or as a human being, you always have challenges everywhere in the world. I want to say as a woman we really have a lot of limitations working specifically in Iran, meaning starting from content creation to finding materials in the bazaar is a big challenge. Everywhere in the world you sketch the design on the paper and you can produce that design, but in Iran you have to see what kind of material you can actually access and then according to that material you make that design into the product. The limited resources in Iran make it impossible, but I think in terms of creativity, with the new brands, I really enjoy seeing kids who are working and are truly at a global level despite all these limitations.

(Ghazal): That’s right because I see that Iran is ahead in every field, whether in fashion or floral design, whatever you see outside of Iran. Inside Iran, they are much more advanced and are working with greater creativity despite all limitations. What do you see as the future of fashion in Iran and the whole industry?

(Nicki): I think designs are increasingly moving towards sustainable fashion, and gradually the use of new technologies like artificial intelligence is becoming a significant impact on this industry as well.

(Ghazal): How much sustainability have you incorporated into your work?

(Nicki): I think a lot. One of the designs I am producing has been in production since the day this brand was born until today. And this means that it does not follow any trends and is a product that you can always use. One of the points I try to pay a lot of attention to is that you can play a lot with style, meaning that if you wear this corset with jeans that I design, you can use them for gatherings too, especially if worn with a formal skirt, it can be used for weddings. I think it's not an item that you would want to use just once, so you should keep it in your closet and don't go looking for it anymore, in my opinion.

(Ghazal): You can mix and match different accessories and change its application if you want to tell a story. Do you have something memorable to share about your work experience?

(Nicki): The journey I took has been very winding and steep, but throughout this journey, something that really made me happy has been what I see; in the early days, I was really stressed and perhaps produced alone, and they didn't have that much confidence. And recently, every time I enter a party, I see five beautiful girls in dresses, which is one of the best memories of this brand for me.

(Ghazal): What an honor it would be; how much do you love music and other branches of art, and how have they influenced your designs?

(Nicki): I really love music a lot because I feel it opens my mind. I usually always try to attend music festivals, wherever it is in the world. I try to participate at the gatherings to see people and see my friends. I feel that people who love fashion, at least in my brand, have been like this. It’s quite funny that everyone who wants to go to a music festival usually buys clothes from me. They want to go to a music festival or a party that I know of. Most of them buy clothes from me, and I can always see photos of girls at these parties, and I find that so interesting. It’s really attractive to me that these styles match the music.

(Ghazal): I still never had a chance to get one of these corsets. If you want to choose a piece for my style, which would you choose for me?

(Nicki): I’d say sequined trousers for you.

(Neelu): I am going to Coachella for the first time this year and I want to wear your corset that I have to the festival! I think it would look really pretty.

(Ghazal): True. It really suits Niloofar, because she was born here, but she has a very Eastern appearance. Also, she knows some things about Iranian culture that I might not know, which is very excellent and her creativity has a big impact on me. Now, if you want to give me a suggestion for Niloofar and for people like us who love fashion, who love creativity, and try every day to apply it in life, if I wanted to move forward in this field, what suggestions do you have and where should we start?

(Nicki): I think consistency.When I was working as an influencer, there were so many brands that would come to me and they would spend money on advertising, and I would put an ad for them, and I would see that three months later they had no activity, and it happened many times. I went after the brand myself and said, well, it's a shame you spent so much money and worked so hard, why isn't it working anymore because usually, people get stuck and give up, but I think they shouldn't stop, and if they have consistency, everything will progress on its own. I think no one should give up if they truly believe in what they are doing.

(Ghazal): Good consistency is the hardest part of the job. What do you need to do or have in order to keep the momentum and not lose the energy to keep persevering?

(Nicki): I really don't know if I was lucky or what happened. I have very good customers. Meaning that they purchase the clothes from me and no one has any obligations but they message me, thank me, compliment me, send photos. This is one of the best things, my motivation for continuing and I am encouraged to want to try harder every day for this work.

(Ghazal): If you had to choose a designer today that you love in Iran, who would that be?

(Nicki): Vaghar

(Ghazal): Thank you very much for your time, may each day you be more successful. Have a great day, we are your loyal customers. Looking forward to seeing your successes.

Women’s Day Highlight: NiCki Zand Bridging Tradition and Modernity Through Intricate Corset Designs