About
THE BRAND
Established in 2013, L’AFSHAR began with an order of just five bags based on a prototype from a design school project. As our recognition grew, so did our brand. In 2020 we launched our line of furniture and objets d’art.
In acrylic I found my ideal medium.
With its glass-like feeling of weightlessness, together with its inherent durability, it contains in it both hardness and softness, structure and light. The opposing aspects exist together in harmony, but with the potential to be enhanced through transformation.
That first bag I made as a student was a subconscious nod to a familiar reference that inspired me from an early age: the fictional glass slipper. In my eyes it was a real objet d’art, a fantasy contrast of material, form, and function, something that existed outside of time and trend.
Our pieces begin as raw material, uncut gems, and just as jeweler refines a stone, we use shape, form, color, and texture to catch the eye and capture the imagination.
THE DESIGNER
Founder and Creative Director Lilian Afshar originally studied to become a ready-to-wear designer. It wasn’t until the presentation of her graduating collection from Esmod in 2013 did she realise the conceptualisation of the signature L’AFSHAR box clutch. An avid believer that a woman needs nothing more than a few essentials to get by, her designs remain compact, contemporary and always ladylike, following the philosophy that less is more. Drawing on her up-bringing as a British-born Iranian who moved around a lot from London, Vancouver, Marbella to Dubai – Lilian’s aesthetic is inspired by her travels and love of art.
THE STUDIO
L’AFSHAR Studio is the name of our homeware line, and also the physical home of the brand itself. Our combined office, showroom, and production space is our nucleus for creative exploration and innovation. It is here where we push boundaries in the medium to make fantasy reality, dreaming up new ideas and engineering methods to bring them to life.
Together with my mother, Nahid, and our close-knit team, we share a deep appreciation of well-made, high-quality pieces, and a passion for both our materials and our inspired approach to their transformation.
THE WOMEN
The L’AFSHAR Woman is sophisticated. She is settled in and confident in her sense of style. She does not allow trends to dictate what she wears or how she wears it. She is artistic by nature, investing in seasonless designs that will stand the test of time. She is ageless – the L’AFSHAR Woman’s age has no impact on her sense of fashion and appreciation for good design. L’AFSHAR is celebrated internationally by the leading style set and well-known figures such as Beyoncé, Celine Dion, HRH Queen Rania, Empress Farah Diba Pahlavi, Anne Hathaway, Gabrielle Union, Nicole Kidman, Heidi Klum, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Bella Hadid, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.
SUSTAINABILITY & PRODUCTION
The production process consists of 14 unique steps, and a single piece is the result of 6 to 7 hours of work. Sculpted elements in particular require close attention to detail, and often need the most time to create; handles for our bags take close to 3 hours to shape.
We intentionally produce in small runs and on a made-to-order basis, taking great care to avoid excess, and we limit waste by recycling our leftover materials, giving life to new pieces.
STORES
Stocked around the globe, L’AFSHAR is stocked in stores including Harrods, Neiman Marcus, Browns, The Webster, Ounass and many more.