Fashion Is Freedom: How a Girl from Tehran Broke the Rules to Change her World

by Tala Raassi, Tala Raassi (Read by)

Overview

The inspiring true story of how courage, a dream, and some needle and thread can change a life forever.

Since she was young, Tala Raassi knew her fate lay in fashion. But growing up in her beloved homeland of Iran, a woman can be punished for exposing her hair in public, let alone wearing the newest trends. Despite strict regulations, Tala developed a keen sense of style in backroom cafes and secret parties. She never imagined her behavior would land her in prison or bring the cruel sting of a whip for the crime of wearing a mini-skirt.

Tala's 40 lashes didn't keep her down - they fanned the flames of individuality and inspired her to embrace a new freedom in the United States. As she developed her own clothing label, her exploration into the creative, cutthroat community of Western fashion opened her eyes to the ups and downs of hard work, hard decisions, and hard truths.

Fashion Is Freedom takes us on a journey that crosses the globe, from Colombia to Miss Universe, and inspires women everywhere to be fearless.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781536683066
Publisher:	Brilliance Audio
Publication date:	03/07/2017
Edition description:	Unabridged
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 6.75(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Tala Raassi, an Iranian-American fashion designer, was born in Maryland, USA and raised in Tehran, Iran. Raassi, termed “One of the Most Fearless Women in the World” by Newsweek Magazine, impressed the fashion world with her talent in exclusive swimwear. She is devoted to “celebrating the beauty of a women’s body through her designs and empower women all around the world to follow their dreams.” For Raassi, “fashion is freedom.”

Table of Contents

My Magical Iran 1

Chapter 1 The Crime of the Miniskirt 3

Chapter 2 With Love There Is No Fear 17

Chapter 3 Theater of War 26

Chapter 4 Behind Closed Doors 34

Chapter 5 The Power of Money 44

Chapter 6 Finding Brilliance in Creation 49

Chapter 7 Rock-Star Education 58

Chapter 8 Tehran High 67

Chapter 9 Restrictions Made Me Resourceful 74

Chapter 10 Behind Bars 85

Don't Get Hopeless, Get Empowered 101

Chapter 11 No Change, No Butterflies 103

Chapter 12 First Fashion Stride 114

Chapter 13 Diamond in the Rough 119

Chapter 14 The World's Longest Runway 126

Chapter 15 Collecting Passport Stamps 133

Chapter 16 The Bare Bones of the Craft 141

Door-To-Door

Chapter 17 Never Trust Capri Pants 151

Chapter 18 Fashion in the Haunted Town House 157

Chapter 19 Naughty Sao Paulo 168

Chapter 20 God Doesn't Have Partners 175

Chapter 21 Starting Over 181

Chapter 22 Born to Design 188

Chapter 23 Think Big 198

Chapter 24 My Mission Published 204

Chapter 25 The Lipstick Revolution 217

Where Is My Crown? 229

Chapter 26 A Golden Opportunity 231

Chapter 27 Living the Dream 241

Chapter 28 Fake Reality 251

Chapter 29 Women in Power 260

Chapter 30 Match Made in Hell 268

Chapter 31 Life and Lemons 275

Chapter 32 The Fragility of Fame 288

Chapter 33 Aftermath and Breakdown 297

Chapter 34 Free and Fearless 303

Acknowledgments 309

About the Author 311

Editorial Reviews

05/30/2016
Fashion designer Raassi recounts her journey from Iran, where she was a rebellious teenager pining for artistic expression, to the U.S., where she created her swimwear line, Dar Be Dar. The book begins in 1998 with a startling account of her 16th birthday party, when Raassi was arrested by military police for wearing a miniskirt and punished with 40 lashes. This traumatic event shaped her vision to “celebrate a woman’s choice to wear whatever she desires, without the fear of being judged or punished.” Raassi reveres her homeland and tries to maintain an apolitical stance while objecting to its sexist customs. She recalls a childhood plagued by the Iran-Iraq War, when Western fashion magazines and Barbie dolls were coveted contraband that informed her artistic awakening. After moving to the States, Raasi faced repeated business failures, which she relates frankly while noting the lessons she learned. These include a disastrous attempt at opening a boutique in Washington, D.C., and a demoralizing experience with a Miss Universe pageant that was marred by wildly inappropriate behavior from the staff, a botched photo shoot, and Donald Trump. Raasi’s story is inspirational and very relevant for young entrepreneurs and creative types, providing plenty of insight into the dos and don’ts of running a small business. Agent: Jessica Regel, Foundry Literary. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"Raassi’s elegant, conversational style…brings readers into her world effortlessly and keeps them there until the final page. [Fashion is Freedom] offers women everywhere a heroine to cheer for." — Booklist

"Raasi’s story is inspirational and very relevant for young entrepreneurs and creative types, providing plenty of insight into the dos and don’ts of running a small business." — Publishers Weekly

"Though her story is unique, all women can be inspired by her bravery and her perseverance. Fashion Is Freedom is a great testament to the power of hard work, regardless of where you come from." — Joanna Coles, Editor in Chief of Cosmopolitan

"A rare book equally likely to appeal to fans of Project Runway and students of contemporary Middle Eastern cultural history." — Kirkus Reviews

"I was so moved with Tala's undying determination! I love that she fought back against oppression by moving from Iran to the U.S., launching her fashion line, creating super sexy styles for all, and embracing the 'BIKINI' as a symbol of freedom!" — Monica Wise, L*Space Founder, Designer, and Creative Director

"A truly inspiring story of perseverance and passion. Tala's honest account of the real trials and frustrations facing any fashion entrepreneur, proves that hard work and an optimistic spirit pave the way to success." — Mary Gehlhar, author of The Fashion Designer Survival Guide and lecturer at The New School at Parson School of Design

"When Tala Raassi received an unthinkable childhood punishment—40 lashes for wearing a miniskirt—she didn't hide in shame. She did the opposite, launching a fashion line to celebrate women's bodies. Her story is extraordinary." — Abigail Pesta, award-winning journalist and Vice President of the Overseas Press Club of America

"Tala is a beautiful example of empowerment and strength. Fashion is Freedom shows us not only an incredible woman on the rise but additionally, a woman who did not allow the difficult hardships she faced on her journey to deter her from chasing her dreams and creating change in the world. I am inspired by her bravery and fearless nature." — Jenna Ushkowitz, Actress, producer and author of Choosing Glee

"Fearless…Iranian designer Tala Raassi’s revolutionary journey from jail to runway." — Cosmopolitan

"Tala can serve as an inspiration to young women everywhere for shedding a dark and difficult past to become successful in business, but the most amazing part of her story isn't her achievement. It's that in spite of what she went through as a kid and aside from the incredible things she has accomplished, she is still an incredibly kind, open person - someone from whom we can all learn. Josh Ellis, Editor in Chief, " — SUCCESS Magazine

"An uplifting and empowering read. Tala Raassi’s story is a testament to our ability as women to pursue our dreams in spite of adversity." — Marie ClaireUK

"Every day I am grateful that I can choose whatever the hell I want to wear without the fear of punishment or violence or imprisonment. Tala’s story had a powerful impact on my life. She is a woman who will change the world!" — Jesinta Campbell, Miss Universe Australia 2010 and author of Live a Beautiful Life

"Whipped and jailed in her native Tehran for wearing a mini skirt and heels, Raassi didn’t let it extinguish her love for style. As her inspiring memoir details, she went on to become a U.S. based designer."  " — PEOPLE

From the Publisher

2016-05-31
Fashion designer Raassi looks back on her years growing up in Tehran and her attempts to grow a business in the United States.In this unexpectedly wry and winning memoir, the author opens with a turning point in her life: in 1998, when she was 16, she attended a party at a private home where the girls all stripped off their hijabs and long coats to reveal miniskirts and high heels. This wasn't the first party she'd attended where this was the practice, but it was the first one to be raided by an armed government group. Raassi ended up spending five days in jail and receiving 40 lashes as punishment for flouting dress laws. From that opening incident, she detours back into exploring the contradictions of growing up in a wealthy family in Iran in the 1980s and '90s, playing with forbidden Barbies, cutting up her mother's mink coat and her father's leather chair to make clothes for them, being one of the "mean girls" in high school, and breaking as many rules as possible. Then the author leaps forward to her parents' insistence that she move to the U.S. after high school. During this time, she went through a series of experiments in fashion and business that ultimately led to her setting up the Dar Be Dar swimwear line. The feisty Raassi is honest about the mistakes she made, the failures she went through, and the complications of making a life in fashion. Chapters about the rise and fall of her Georgetown boutique and her decidedly mixed experience sponsoring the 2010 Miss Universe pageant suggest "the unglamorous sides of the most glamorous industry in the world." A rare book equally likely to appeal to fans of Project Runway and students of contemporary Middle Eastern cultural history.

Kirkus Reviews