“ARSHIE’s approach is one of longevity. Like the women in our own family, we see our customers with the potential to pass on their own fashion legacy. To inspire and bring out the best in each other. Our designs are an investment piece for wardrobes now and in the future.”
Nayirie K. Mehdikhani, Founder
“I daydream, looking out of the window. I look down at NYC’s Garment District. And I think of my grandmother, the quiet maker. How hard she worked as a widow raising and educating my mother, in turn gifting me the freedom to choose my own path.”
The year is 1973 and Arshagouhi – fondly known as ‘Arshie’, our namesake – sits at her sewing machine. The year is now and her granddaughter, Nayirie, is frustrated by modern womenswear, by the lack of practical pockets in her clothing. Fueled by the challenge of dashing from desk to conference room, café to gym class without her hands full. She shares her thoughts and her mother, Arpi, leads her to a suitcase from the 70s, revealing within a blazer – with pockets.
The blazer made by Arshie, worn by her daughters, and passed down to her granddaughter. The blazer recreated for you.
Manufacturing in New York’s Garment District has significantly declined since Arshie’s time.
But it is core to our story; we honor our heritage and continue to produce here from a family-owned clothing workshop.
We invite you to speak our language of the collector.
We approach with longevity. We do not release seasonal drops but collections to be treasured and shared. Like the women in our own family, we encourage you to pass on your style legacy.
Our launch of Arpi and Seta blazers (named after the sisters who wore them) will return again and again. A core piece, an investment, an heirloom.
We use deadstock fabric.
In the 70s, Arshie also used leftover fabric and scraps to create garments for her daughters. She often worked through the night, shipping her designs to Arpi who was studying at USC, and to Seta, a student at NYU.
The linens and wools we create with are new, leftover from manufacturing mills and designers in Italy, Japan and the US.
Keepsakes, history, fashion designers, books and more shape ARSHIE creations. Pictured with Arpi’s favorite Charles Jourdan shoes from the time is Diana Vreeland’s book D.V. from 1984. She writes: “Put the money here, lipstick and powder there, the comb and rouge here. Of course, you’d have much bigger pockets, and they’d be rather chic.” The pockets that inspired Nayirie were originally designed for women in the 18th century, ornate and beautiful. A patch of joy.
And then comes Arpi’s suitcase of dreams. Revealing Arshie’s original blazer design from the 70s, sketches and sewing patterns. Arshie created Arpi’s wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses (in shades replicated in the capsule collection), inspired by Yves Saint Laurent. But it is old photographs of Arpi and Seta in the City, wearing Arshie-made looks, which tell our story best. Timeless charm, signature silhouettes.
