SAMIRA*ATASH

SAMIRA * ATASH at D.C. Fashion Week!
..SAMIRA ATASH: Behind the Label
..Fashion Designer & Creator of two fashion labels: SAMIRA ATASH & It's A Miracle Maternity....Marketing & Creative Director for AMDi & Artizan Sarai....Fashion Director/writer for ZEBA Magazine (created Buko-Nako)........Samira Atash is a New York based Afghan-American fashion designer who was born in Kabul, Afghanistan. She and her family fled the Soviet occupied capital to the United States under political asylum in April 1979 and moved to Tallahassee, Florida where her father was studying for his PhD at Florida State University. Her family then moved to South Carolina and finally settled in Northern Virginia where she lived for fifteen years......After graduating with an honors B.S. degree in Marketing from George Mason University in 1997, Samira worked in the corporate world as a Market Analyst before deciding to pursue a career in fashion, a dream of hers since she was a young girl. Despite being told that she would not last in the industry and that it wasn’t a “real job” by friends and family, Samira did not let her dream die. In 2000, she completed an intensive fashion program at Parsons School of Design and officially launched her first self-funded label “SAMIRA” for Spring/Summer 2001, an evening wear label that sold to upscale boutiques nationwide. The designer received media attention, a nomination from FGI’s RISING STAR AWARD, and in 2002, a dress she designed was featured in the blockbuster hit “Men in Black II” starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones.......... After the September 11th attacks, she took a six month hiatus from fashion to focus on humanitarian projects for victims of 9/11 and Afghan refugees. In January 2003, after two years of commuting between Virginia and New York to build her first label "SAMIRA", she moved to New York City and launched "It's A Miracle Contemporary Maternity". The maternity label was launched after the September 11th attacks sent the fashion industry reeling and after Samira realized there was an untapped niche for pregnant women looking for stylish yet modest clothing. The demand for the label was initially so high that the company could barely keep up with demand. Orders grew quickly and an It’s A Miracle design was even worn live on air by CNN anchorwoman Soledad O’Brien during her first pregnancy. The label is still a popular choice for pregnant women everywhere........In 2004, Samira visited Afghanistan for the first time after 25 years and was distraught by the severe poverty in the country, but inspired by the motivation and talent of Afghan women. Between 2004-2005, Samira traveled to Kabul extensively to work with Afghan women on research and product development of her new label, Samira Atash, which is inspired by the tribal embroideries and history of Afghanistan. The label received a FGI’s RISING STAR AWARD nomination, the second for the designer....In 2006, Samira was contacted by Etisalat, the UAE's largers telecom company, to design their collection of new uniforms as part of a re-branding strategy. That year, she was also asked to headline ZeBA Magazine’s “Night of Comedy, Music, and Fashion” in the Washington DC Metropolitan area. The December 23rd fashion show was sold out to a crowd of over 1,200 and was the designer's first time showing to an Afghan-American audience. The collection, inspired by the ancient Silk Road and Afghan tribal embroideries, can still be purchased on www.samiraatash.com and even includes a new men’s wear line that was well received.........Samira Atash has over eight years experience in illustration, design, product development, sample & production management and marketing & distribution. In addition to being an award nominated designer, she has created successful marketing campaigns, branding strategies and designed the image of her e-commerce sites. She has also held positions as Marketing Manager and Market Analyst for the companies Parsa International and IXI, Corp. in McLean, VA.........Samira has also trained at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City, worked as a film costume designer in Los Angeles, and starred as a lead actress in the popular independent film FireDancer, Afghanistan's first feature film to be entered into the Academy Awards. Recently, she launched Artizan Sarai, a decor and accessories label with her sisters that helps artisans (www.artizansarai.com) and also donates 10% of business profits to www.nooristanfoundation.org, a non-political non-profit organization whose aim is to providing charitable, scientific and educational support to the rural areas of Afghanistan....The SAMIRA ATASH label looks forward to launching a new collection for women and men inspired by Afghan tribes and the ancient Silk Road....stay tuned!