JafarMusic.com - Cinema - Afghan Cinema - Samira Atash

Samira Atash is a New York based Afghan-American fashion designer who has created two popular fashion labels: SAMIRA ATASH & It's A Miracle Contemporary Maternity.

After graduating with an honors B.S. degree in Marketing from George Mason University, 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’s company was invited to participate in the U.S.’s first trade delegation to Kabul, Afghanistan, the first time she would visit the country after 25 years. She 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 embroiderers on research and product development of her new label, SAMIRA ATASH, a stylish and contemporary fashion label for women and men that is inspired by the Silk Road and the tribal embroideries of Afghanistan. Collections are made from natural materials such as cotton and silk under fair working conditions. The new collection 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 women and men’s sales rep uniforms as part of a re-branding strategy. That year, she was also asked to headline a “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. Samira is also Fashion Director for ZEBA Magazine, where she created the popular “Buko-Nako” fashion section. 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.

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, the look of many e-commerce websites, and worked 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.

With a growing international fan base, designer Samira Atash’s mission is to continually unite East and West through stylish designs made under ethical production standards.