When the final model stepped off the runway and the applause thundered through the hall, designer Lara Dizeyee stood backstage, her heart full of pride. For her, Milan Enchanted was more than a fashion show — it was a cultural odyssey, a story told through thread, symbol, and soul.
“I felt overwhelmed with emotions — proud, grateful, and deeply moved, Ms Dizeyee recalls. Seeing the audience’s reaction reminded me why I do what I do — to touch hearts through my designs,” Ms Dizeyee told SBS Kurdish.
Kurdish Bride Credit: Raul Francisco
The seeds of Milan Enchanted were planted in a moment of quiet inspiration — a vision that would become the heartbeat of the collection.
“The symbols and the storytelling were the main point that set me on the right path, Ms Dizeyee explains. It began with a vision of two souls — one ancient and one modern — meeting under the same moon. I wanted to explore what happens when memory and modernity embrace.”
From that vision, Milan Enchanted emerged — a world where time bends and tradition dances with innovation, where the old soul of Kurdistan meets the spirit of global couture.
Erbil Citadel design, by Lara Dizeyee Credit: Raul Francisco
Each garment in the collection carries a fragment of Ms Dizeyee’s own journey — memories, emotions, and places woven together into a cohesive whole.
“Every design carries a fragment of my journey — a place, a person, or a feeling that marked me, she says. Some garments whisper the mountains and villages of Kurdistan; others speak of my years abroad and my longing for home. Collectively, they tell a story of transformation — of a woman who carries her roots proudly while spreading her wings.”
Bride and bridemaid Credit: Andrea Zaniboni/Ben Clarke
At its core, Milan Enchanted is a dialogue between past and present, a tribute to the continuity of Kurdish artistry through generations.
“I’ve always tried to honour the past while connecting it to the future and the present,” Ms Dizeyee notes.
“It’s a love story between the past and the future, and a beautiful harmony is built through fabric, form, and emotion.”
The designer merged traditional Kurdish embroidery and handcrafted motifs with modern silhouettes and couture-level construction.
“It’s a conversation between generations, where a grandmother’s embroidery meets her granddaughter’s dreams. Together, they create something timeless.”
Credit: Raul Francisco
Cultural symbolism lies at the heart of Milan Enchanted. Each piece was chosen with purpose — not to imitate, but to celebrate.
“I chose many iconic symbols and transformed them into designs to tell a story, she explains. Milan Enchanted was more than a fashion show, it was a story of hope, love, and loss. But in the end, it rose beneath the Kurdish flag. Every element, from the fabrics to the silhouettes, carried meaning — a reflection of resilience, identity, and pride.”
Among the most striking moments of the show was a design featuring an image of Hapsa Khan, the pioneering Kurdish activist and leader.
“Hapsa Khan was the first Kurdish woman to rise as a leader, an activist and a symbol of empowerment,” says Ms Dizeyee.
“Including her image was my way of saying our heroine deserves a place on the world’s runway. Her spirit aligned perfectly with the message of Milan Enchanted is resilience, dignity, and pride.”
This outfit represent Hapsa Khan, first Kurdish activist Credit: Raul Francisco
For Lara Dizeyee, the show was not only an act of artistic expression but also an invitation, a bridge between worlds.
“For Kurdish audiences, I hope it feels like representation — like seeing our beauty, history, and artistry celebrated globally,” she says.
“For international audiences, I hope it opens a window into a world they may not know, inviting them to feel the soul of a nation through fabric and form. I wanted both to meet in the middle, united by emotion.”
Between worlds, beyond borders
Born in Vienna, raised in the United States, and rooted in Kurdistan, Ms Dizeyee’s life embodies the very fusion that defines her work.
“I am a daughter of the diaspora, she reflects. My identity has always existed between worlds. Milan Enchanted reflects that in its structure — East meets West, tradition meets futurism. Belonging to me is not a place but a feeling, one that lives in the threads between past and present.”
Kurdish fashion designer Lara Dizeyee Credit: Andrea zaniboni/Ben Clarke
The show itself unfolded like a cinematic journey.
“The show began with an imagining of the Citadel — those timeless walls that embody resilience, strength and identity, Ms Dizeyee says. It was important for me to open with that symbol. Then came the Newroz design, celebrating our Kurdish New Year, a moment of light, rebirth, and hope.”
From the symbolic to the modern and finally the cinematic, the progression mirrored both personal and cultural evolution.
“Each theme blended beautifully into the next, telling the story of Milan Enchanted, she explains. The show ended beneath the Kurdish flag — a proud reminder of unity and heritage.”
Credit: Raul Francisco
The process of creating Milan Enchanted deepened Ms Dizeyee’s understanding of her role as a designer.
“It reminded me that fashion is not just about beauty — it’s about storytelling, she says. Milan Enchanted affirmed that my voice lies in bridging worlds, turning heritage into haute couture. It gave me courage to be unapologetically Kurdish, unapologetically global.”
When asked which single piece defines the collection, her answer is immediate.
“It would definitely be the Kurdish flag, all four parts of Kurdistan stood beneath its wings. It was the unifier, the father, and protector of all the designs. Every piece, every colour, every symbol found its home beneath it.”
Representing the Kurdish flag
Even as she basks in the success of Milan Enchanted, Ms Dizeyee’s gaze is set firmly on what comes next.
“After each show, my focus shifts to production — bringing what was once a vision on the runway into the hands of those who believed in my work, she says. The journey has only just begun.”
Her plans include future showcases across the Middle East and Europe — including a cultural presentation in Kurdistan, which she describes as “a full-circle moment.”
“Beyond that, I’m developing a ready-to-wear shoe line that blends comfort and heritage, she adds. My mission is to continue sharing Kurdish beauty with the world — one story, one stitch, one soul at a time.”
Credit: Raul Francisco
Ji bo bihîstina babetên din serî li sbs.com.au/language/kurdish/ku/guhdar-bike
