Interview with LILI DCHI

LILI DCHI ("LD") interviewed on Monday, 6 June.

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?

LD : My design career began in 2011, but I learned knitting from my mother several years ago and received an academic degree in graphics and illustration. When I started, winter clothes were less noticed by designers and I could present more creativity in that specific area. My fashion designs have important implications in the fields of art, intercultural presentation, and sustainable fashion. Our production process centers on eco-friendly materials and handcraft methods and guarantees dignified conditions to our employees and craftspeople. we were created employment opportunities for women throughout Iran and has demonstrated the viability of businesses that prioritize gender justice and sustainability.

How did you become a designer?

LD : I was a senior graphic designer in the studio. I started to have my work. For the first step, I plan to design some ideas into reality. Working for someone else could not satisfy my energy and desires. 10 Years ago I exhibited my first gallery of works. It had a very important role in my decision to be a better designer in the future.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

LD : My focus on design is include every culture around the world. The designs show the power of women in this culture. My designs focus on those topics. I want to make connections with eye contact with my designs. Because of that, I prefer to design more popular but, special popular. You can make something to be popular but special at the same time. The ponchos and scarves that I designed until now can show these facts.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

LD : As a designer, we focus on users’ needs in their interactions with our products. It’s logical that the functionality our design should help them achieve their goals as efficiently and effectively as possible. Thus, I feel so cool and excited when design my products. And I am so excited when the designs are completed and i feel like my dreams get in to reality.

What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?

LD : I graduated in the graphic from Shiraz University. Learning about colors and designs started at that age. I love to work with colors as something to use in our life and daily routine. Another reason I had a specific culture in my hometown, Shiraz. Qashqai women and how they made Persian handmade carpets had a very important aspect in my point of view to being a designer.

What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?

LD : I plan to exhibit at the gallery in new york. I want to partner with some artists there to publish and design a project in some kind of art aspects. I usually live in the future, not the past. I think this is helping me to see the world in a better way.

What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?

LD : Get ideas from designs but do not copy them at all. Copying will destroy their creativity and artistic course. Be patient and do not be disappointed if they fail. Layout your goals, short and future, and put your all into to form them happen. this could mean additional work, learning a replacement ability, or pushing outside your temperature. don't wait around and expect and chance to come back to you. It will not happen.

You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?

LD : Work for your happiness. Do not work for money at the beginning. When you just think about money, it does not help you to improve yourself. you can not think deeply and your creativity should be lost. Talk to the people to find out their needs. Be Classy! And work hard and learn as much as you can.

What is your day to day look like?

LD : I follow up on fashion news to improve my knowledge. I am always looking for the best materials and checking my employees' work. I have a good relationship with them. I think when you work with your employees, their results are much better. Usually, I am searching to find new markets and develop Lilidchi.

How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?

LD : I usually buy fashion magazines and find out what is the news in fashion. Check social media to be up to date is very important. Today people took much time on internet base media. With my development team, we observe the fashion trends and habits of society. Making an interview with reporters helped me to connect with the modern world and people.

How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?

LD : It is very variable, but when the people's feedbacks are very important to a design get successful. A decent plan is viable and effective in satisfying its motivation. It depends on as not many outside variables and contributions as could be expected, and these are not difficult to gauge and control to accomplish a normal other result. A decent plan is consistently the least complex working arrangement.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

LD : Obviously, on a specific day, you should stop and say it's done. You can wait to improve the design for 5 years, but the market needs you. You must be in the mind and news. When I feel I am excited about my design, I think it is ready. The product development process in fashion stems from an idea that is visualized in an expressive form to reach the goals without constraints. The fashion design creative process involves several steps that take at least 12 to 18 months to reach its goal.

What is your biggest design work?

LD : “Lut” poncho, which in my opinion is the most significant work in this collection, I have tried to present a new image of the desert to the audience. To achieve this goal, I have used various bright colors and the motif of animals such as camels that live in the desert and are reminiscent of the sunny and hot days of this pristine habitat. Every people can find something in that Lut Design. I design that poncho to describe the people in my country.

Who is your favourite designer?

LD : Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani, known mononymously as Valentino, is an Italian fashion designer, and the founder of the Valentino brand and company. He is my favorite designer. If I have a chance to the dead designer, I want to talk with Iranian designer, Bijan Pakzad. I admire Zaha Hadid as an architect.

Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?

LD : I live inn Tehran, Iran. Our culture (Iranian) is affects my designs and ideas. I enjoy minimal life style for myself. Because I choose simple designs and I believed the best style is the simplest one. I can not wear or use complicated designs. keep it simple! Streamlined shapes, a small selection of colors and even a bare minimum (gasp!) amount of clothing in your closet. Simplicity is the key to pinpointing this style.

Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?

LD : The fashion industry is very competitive and hard to find a place for yourself. I work with partners. I am so excited to have these partners. Without them, my brand probably should not exist. Kiavash Pooladi as Business development manager, Zohreh Doroodchi as our creative director, and Zahra Doroodchi as Marketing Manager are my partners. Everyone has their roles and by working hard we can take our targets.

What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?

LD : My work has shown the appeal of eco-friendly fashion and the market viability of female-led businesses. Creators have an expert commitment to perceive the social implications they produce and to foster a moral position and models by which they can assess not simply the tasteful and monetary parts of their work, yet in addition it's importance and application in the public eye.

What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?

LD : A' Design award is a very important award that is now in my portfolio. I think it should help me to open the impossible ways to grow up in Lilidchi. I can show my designs in more exhibitions and present them to other cultures.

LILI DCHI Profile