We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sobia Azhar a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sobia, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I knew I wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path back in 2018 when I was approached to be a part of my first photo shoot. Despite being timid, after seeing the results of my first shoot, I realized how naturally it came to me. Thinking back, I realize it was still a path of less resistance because it has never felt unnatural for me to be in front of the camera. Overtime, my natural inclination to style, know poses, and knowing how to direct others/create sets flowed from me with ease. It was like learning how to ride the bike again. Like anything in my life, when I get good at it I try to find new ways to challenge myself. My creative journey began with being in front of the camera, to directing scenes from behind the camera, and when that became simple, I began to sew the clothes that would be worn in the shoot. Right now, I am at a place where my current passion is a little bit challenging! Learning to sew is an iceberg to which I cannot fathom the entire size of. There are so many details that matter, that impact the overall product, yet it is still exhilarating to be a student once again. To be curious, afraid, vulnerable, and passionate – yet also learning to laugh when you fail. I have befriended failure, not in a way where it is to my detriment, but to a point where it has become a tool. I sharpen myself everyday, so that I can be the jack of all trades. It is glorious to be a creative and I am grateful for that faithful moment in 2018. I have come so far and blossomed in so many ways. I am capable of so much yet this is still only the beginning of my journey. As time has progressed I realize that as a first-immigrant child, its become my means to help break the cycle of despair, and poverty. I have full faith that my design work will be the success that will impact my bloodline for generations.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a model, an art director, and a fashion designer. As a model, I specialize in futuristic and abstract shoots. My goal as a model is to always create something that hasn’t been seen before. I always try to find concepts that put me in a light where one may not have imagined me before. It is easy to stand in front of a solid colored backdrop, but how does one create depth in an image? How do you pack emotions and thoughts into just one picture. As someone who is extremely empathetic, I know how art moves me, how I connect to other people’s art, so I always aim to provide the same experience.

As a director, and you’ll see there’s a common theme for creating something un-created, I look for ways to push my model and photographer to new limits. Coming from Chicago, I have always been surrounded by extreme loads of talent. Being in Atlanta, the talent is still here, it’s just hidden a little bit. I focus on high fashion looks that look like they belong in New York, on the cover of Bazaar or Vogue, yet have the influence of someone like Dave LaChapelle. He is someone who has a constant theme of futurism. Within my work, that looks like galactic/alien themes. That looks like extreme color-blocking with high fashion looks. That looks like extreme light play and a lot of post-production edits. I once read a quote that said “directing is like painting with water paint, except you’re asking someone to do it for you, from 10 feet away.” If that isn’t the most accurate depiction! One of the best skills I learned through direction was speaking with clarity. When asking a model or photographer to encompass a certain look, you cannot only focus on the WHAT but also the HOW. Direction is all about finding a clear balance between the action and the emotion. You also have to make your team feel confident in what they are doing. It is a team effort no matter what. I look to provide flow in my service. My models don’t ever have to worry on how to pose or what to wear! I got that covered always. I am always so proud of the work I create because it always looks like a million dollar project. My models always feel secure and proud, and I am proud of always creating new genres of art. My work never falls into one category. It always reflects on many different influences and genres which is exactly what sets it apart!

Finally, as a designer, I am a self taught seamstress. What this means is that everything is handmade, and all of my garments have blood, sweat and tears in them. Most of my creations take weeks to complete. I have forced myself to slow down and allow each piece to come together with extreme thought and caution. That’s down to how the thread is sew, how the garment is cut, and how the buttons sit on the fabric. If I thought at one point that direction was difficult, I met my match with sewing. It is such a deep learning experience. My clothes can be categorized into ‘elevated ready-to-wear’ items. So far, I have created more elegant evening gowns than anything. I specialize in hand painted jeans as well, and am trying my hand at sewing 3 piece suit/skirt sets for women. Although most of my clothes have been favored towards female fashion, my goal as a designer is to be able to create the most elegant line of androgynous clothing. I look forward to making all genders feel sexy, feel beautiful in my clothing. My goal is always to create an outfit or piece that does not exist. I do not create clothes, I create wearable ART. My most proud accomplishment has to be this 3-piece skirt set I made. It is a matching jacket, skirt, and corset, that is perfect to be formal wear, or even brought down to casual. Regardless, the pattern and silhouette of this set is something I have not really seen on the market yet. It can be difficult to create new things in today’s over-saturated world, but I am inspired everyday to be the brand that uncovers a new truth to the fashion world. I know my grandfather is guiding me in the path of success. I know this is the craft that will set my bloodline free. I have never felt so much passion and sureness in anything in my life as much as this. It is an honor to be the vessel that hones this craft! I feel like God is moving through me when I sew. I look forward to being able to control every aspect of a photo. The clothes, the set creation, the direction, so that one day I can create a magazine that is just as impactful as Vogue or Bazaar. I am not looking to create just art pieces, I am creating an entire new world that doesn’t yet exist. That could never be a small or easy feat, but I am determined and I will be successful with that!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the most difficult things I had to unlearn was that growth is consistent. As an artist, the obstacles we face are much greater and much more silent than those of other life paths. To a certain extent, yes there should be a utilization of routine and proper time management, but when that is not currently possible in your life, it is easy to convince yourself that you are not doing enough. At the end of the day we are all human, and many creatives operate out of SURVIVAL mode. Scraping resources together to make ends meet and still try to find the energy to pour into their craft. When I stopped putting deadlines on my creation, my art flowed more naturally, and more genuinely. One of the biggest lessons I learned is that “the day you plant your seeds, is not the day you harvest your fruit.” I truly had to release a timeline on when my brand would reach success. You tire yourself out focusing on the quickest way to reach the stage you imagine as “successful”. It takes away the joy of the present moment and honing into how you can be better TODAY. We have no control over the obstacles, the curve balls, and the way our success will look. It is better to focus on what you can control today, and let the universe take the wheel.. To become a talented seamstress and designer is not an easy feat. It may take 5-7 years for me to have the impact I yearn to have, but in order for it to hit how I want it to hit, I will have to put in HOURS, if not weeks and months of work to achieve the version of myself who will be able to handle those future responsibilities. Give me the resources to support myself, but also! The wisdom to keep hold of my blessings.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Yes! I chose to become a designer at my time at Clark Atlanta University. I was so focused on becoming a French minor that I did not take advantage of the fashion classes that were available on campus. As rewarding as being a self-taught designer is, it is also extremely difficult and frightening. Had I took even one pattern making class, or any fashion class in entirety, my confidence and talent would be at a different level. I wish I could go back and tell myself to focus on skills that are relevant to you in that time and place! I enjoy being fluent in French, but post-graduation, it is not serving a role in my everyday life the way fashion is. I could have been in a completely different space as a creative, but now I make sure to find opportunities for communal learning in any way that I can. Usually that looks like sewing with friends to pick up on their skills and expertise, and share knowledge back. Its a textbook example of iron sharpening iron.     

Contact Info:

• Website: https://azharsobia56.wixsite.com/website
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/pakipikasso?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

Image Credits
Orange / Black – ig: @ddesigns_ Brown Hoodie – ig: @noscephas Futuristic Magazine – ig: @nibirucode Abstract Dress – ig: @du.ure