MELODY
ON DESIGNING THE WORLD AROUND HER
BY
SUMEERA J.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
Simrah Farrukh
The streetwear icon talks about the daily rituals that give her sustainable creative strength.
“I feel like clothing or jewelry, or anything that you put on, is meant to be an accompaniment to support you as you move through the world.
Melody Ehsani said about what inspires her when she designs. Her words, spoken softly, still managed to echo louder than the rain humming outside during this Monday interview. It was an overcast and showers day in Los Angeles, marking the first real day of fall, in late October, because seasons here enjoy being fashionably late.
Ehsani is more than just a designer or the first women’s global creative director of Foot Locker. She is grounded in her beliefs and practices, and you can feel that frequency around you upon meeting her. During our conversation, my eyes often gazed outside the windows of her home, resting at the top of the hills with clouds blanketing around us so much that you couldn’t see anything beyond them. We were sky-high, truly nestled away from the city’s noise. In a way, this environment was so fitting for someone who is able to detach from the infrastructures of the world beneath us.
I want to create something that will remind you of who you are, and why you're here — make it a little bit easier for you to move through the world, and feel supported or confident, whatever it is that you need,”
If last year taught us anything, it's the sanctity of our bodies when it comes to working and chasing our dreams. Systems and routines that were in place for decades were never the best for us — they were just what we were used to in today's age. In America, young individuals are resigning from their jobs at record numbers — some are calling this ongoing trend the Great Resignation. More folks are breaking away from what is traditional. Regardless of whether you work for yourself or for someone else, there’s a fine balance between working hard and tending to yourself.
“I don't want to glamorize that having your own businesses is easy, because in some ways, it's even harder than working for someone,”
Ehsani admitted. “Part of the reason that I took on the Foot Locker role was because it was so much easier for me to come into a system that was already established, versus me having to literally build it from scratch. At this point in my career, that’s inspiring to me. I know how long it takes to build up to that point, and sometimes having that kind of infrastructure is a luxury. So it's, you know, definitely a balance. There's pros and cons on every side.”
When she isn’t working on her namesake brand Melody Ehsani, or as Foot Locker’s creative director, she's co-hosting the podcast The Butterfly Forecast, or can be found courtside at the Los Angeles Lakers’ games. It was only right to share space with someone who exists beyond titles, as a means to get insight on how one can do it all without compromising their wellbeing. HYPEBAE had the opportunity to get a glimpse into a day in the life of Ehsani, as we discussed everything from her on-the-go lifestyle to the intention behind her latest collection.
The streetwear designer explained that she has to prepare herself spiritually first and foremost — with prayers and meditation, hinging on the intention to have the “most clear and efficient path to whatever [her] design looks like on this planet.” In the age of hustle culture, when many are so attached to an outcome, it’s refreshing to see Ehsani being able to make time to reflect, so she can show up the best way she can. As someone layered in so many facets of her work and practice, it’s expected that not every day is the same for her. “My mornings, they’re different.” She expanded on implementing yoga into her days, four times a week, while still focusing on nourishment the remainder of the week, such as getting her food ready for the day. “I always try to eat something,” she added.
Once these elements of her day are met, Ehsani gets to work. “I try to split up creative days and workdays. If I am designing something, then my entire day from start to end will just be designing.” For Ehsani, designing goes beyond sketches and encompasses researching — finding references and points of inspiration. Workdays tackle the planning, or what she referred to as “everything that comes after the designing.” Whether that is meeting with her own team or the Foot Locker team, she still manages to squeeze in creativity in between.
Intention and thoughtfulness make up a huge part of Ehsani’s brand. From the products to the social media rollout, the care is there. “My overall intention is always, ‘How can I serve?’ I try to include some kind of an educational aspect to it, hence all the research and the awareness — because as I grow, I feel like it's my responsibility to also share the things that I learned and came across.”
Her Fall/Winter 2021 collection testifies to these notions. Each outfit has its own moment to introduce itself. The collection draws inspiration from a diverse range of sources, including Ehsani’s Persian identity, while still establishing itself as classic staples for one’s wardrobe.
“I took a picture of a Persian rug, similar to the one that's in my mom's house … I always knew how valuable they were. My grandmother would give us a rug and it was almost as if she was giving us a savings account or something,” Ehsani recalled. “What I didn't realize is all the storytelling that's in each rug — every single symbol, every single color, tells a story of where it came from, who it came from. A lot of [the FW21 collection] is inspired by my own heritage, using a lot of those symbols that mean different things, like prosperity or protection.”
When you are deeply rooted in your wellbeing, it expresses itself through your work, offering audiences enrichment that is deeper and more intricate than fabric, which is what sets Ehsani apart.
Her evenings are all about recovery — that can mean spending a night in with her partner, Flea, and inviting their friends over for dinner, working on creative projects together, or just watching television (the designer is currently getting deep into The Wire). When it’s basketball season, however, you’ll find Ehsani kicking it courtside at Staples Center. “I go to every Lakers game I can, which really is like medicine for me.”
Cultivating a balanced lifestyle allows Ehsani to show up at her best at work. When asked where she falls on the spectrum of self-discipline and allowing herself tenderness, Ehsani explained, “The last three years, I've really learned a lot about how important your body is, as a vehicle … everything goes through your body.” Stepping into that power meant resetting her diet, and consulting with a team of diverse practitioners to support her mind, body and everything in between.
“I've become really aware of what I'm available for in the world,” Ehsani said. “And because I want to be available for a lot [of things], I want to have the energy to take on all the projects that I want to take on.
There are so many people that I want to collaborate with, places I want to go and things I want to do. The only way that I could really do that is if I have enough energy for it.”
Sumeera J. is a writer born and based in Southern California. With an MFA in writing from the University of San Francisco, she documents identity through art, culture and the fleeting feelings in between. You can explore her work further at her website.
EHSANI