How do we preserve our roots?
Leyla Kashani is a Toronto-based high fashion brand dedicated to preserving cultural lineage and history. Founded and designed by Leyla, the wearable-art label creates clothing, accessories and jewellery. This is achieved through ethical, handcrafted processes that honour her Iranian heritage and empower local artisans globally. Committed to conscious luxury, the brand specialises in techniques originally used to create textiles and rugs.
Each individually-created item presents a timeless piece of history, sharing stories of community, culture and forgotten artistry. Traditional and meticulous hand embroidery, crocheting, textile manipulation and overlaying are integrated into each clothing item using the highest quality silk and wool blends. One of Leyla Kashani’s signature design styles demonstrates artful pleating, made in collaboration with origami masters, and individually draped. The brand’s high art jewellery items incorporate ancient metalwork processes and historic emblems, including hand carved vintage coins from Iran, America, France and Canada.
Inspiration, materials and techniques are sourced by Leyla Kashani during regular travels to remote villages across Iran and brought to life in the label’s Toronto and Tehran ateliers, with the help of skilled local craftspeople. The brand’s core goal is to breathe life back into endangered artisanal art forms and give a global voice to artisans. Leyla Kashani’s work gives hope to the brand’s craftspeople, showing them an international appreciation for their skills.
Leyla's passion for fashion was nurtured on two continents. She embarked on her fashion journey with formal training in France and Canada, soaking in the rich tapestries of European and North American design. Today, she divides her creative time between her bustling Toronto studio and her brand atelier nestled in the heart of Tehran.
A Vision Unveiled
Leyla's passion for repurposing vintage textiles and accessories was born from her extensive travels and experience in the fashion industry. She is passionate about preserving time-honored textile techniques and artisanal craftsmanship. Each one-of-a-kind statement piece in Leyla Kashani's collection is a commitment to reviving these traditional techniques and bringing culturally significant art forms to life.
