“The Ahbi Set” Origin Story

There’s something deeply personal about carrying our traditions with us, especially as members of the diaspora living in a Western world that often asks us to assimilate. The Ahbi Set was born from this very sentiment—a desire to blend my Persian heritage with contemporary fashion, to create something that felt both nostalgic and fresh, an ode to where I come from and where I am now.

The Inspiration: A Love for Persian Rugs

Growing up, the intricate blue and cream Persian rugs of my childhood home were more than just decor, they were a foundation, a grounding presence filled with history, storytelling, and artistry. They told a story of craftsmanship and culture that had been passed down for generations. That love for Persian rugs, their depth of meaning and beauty, became the inspiration for the Ahbi Set.

I wanted to find a way to wear my traditions, to carry them with me in a way that seamlessly fit into modern day casual wear. A bridge between my ancestry and my everyday life, a way to honor my roots while living in the western world.

The Importance of Carrying Our Heritage

As members of the diaspora, we often find ourselves at a crossroads between two identities. We are shaped by the cultures of our homelands but also influenced by the spaces we inhabit today. It’s easy to feel the pressure to choose one over the other, but in reality, our strength comes from weaving the two together.

Fashion is one of the most powerful ways to express this duality. Through clothing, we tell stories, we make statements, and we honor our past while moving forward. The Ahbi Set is little passion project and my first attempt at creating a piece infusing traditional Persian aesthetics into a wearable, everyday look. It’s a reminder that our heritage isn’t something we leave behind but something we carry with us, in the way we dress, in the way we create, and in the way we navigate the world.

For me, the Ahbi Set is a love letter to my culture, my upbringing, and the generations before me. It’s proof that honoring our heritage doesn’t mean staying in the past, but rather, finding ways to bring it into the present. In a world that often asks us to conform, fashion can be a quiet rebellion, a way to proudly showcase where we come from.

By integrating our traditions into modern fashion, we not only create something visually stunning but also craft a story that bridges the past and the present, one that we can carry forward with pride and look dope doing it!