Books By Style

No one has done it all quite like designer Ava Iranpour Asly. Not only is she the founder and editor of Discharge Magazine, but she’s also an Intellectual Rights Lawyer and a vehement Human Rights Advocate. She learned a lot as an attorney working in California on Entertainment and Intellectual Property Law. This taught her to retain full creative and licensing control over her magazine and projects making her the sole proprietor. She’s also been an outspoken advocate on the injustices in Iran and the genocide in Palestine. It was important for the editor to use her voice to educate readers on the violence being enacted against innocent people.

Many of Asly’s designs have been inspired by her Middle Eastern heritage. In a culture known for extravagance, the editor is still the boldest draped in her furs and accessories. Her work has predominantly featured vibrant colors and neutral tones, like tans, nudes, and browns- meant to remind viewers of the warm climate and desert landscapes in the Middle East. She often uses luxurious fabrics with intricate patterns and symbols reflecting her cultural traditions. She also loves a good matching bangle moment and her jewelry is frequently religiously symbolic. Sharing her beliefs, culture, and aesthetic has been a big part of the designer’s brand and mission. Unlike typical designers, she uniquely makes herself part of the collections and showcases she creates.

Discharge is unlike any traditional fashion magazine. It focuses on tackling the most controversial topics and tough issues that most avoid. The editor prides herself on bringing in diverse and unique voices to create an engaging and open dialogue. She’s also made it a point to promote sustainability efforts in fashion- starting honest conversations about the effects of fashion on the environment and the need for recycling clothes.

Asly founded her brand on acceptance and community wanting to create a space for those who have always felt like outsiders. She’s been honest about the effects of being separated from her family at a young age and the difficulty of finding her place in a new world as a refugee. When she published her magazine she wrote in a letter, “Its always been hard for me to feel like I have a home, to trust that I’m wanted and that I’m meant to be where I am.” So, she created a space where not only she was wanted, but everyone was wanted and could feel at home.

In the book, The Nature of Witches, a young witch named Clara feels like an outcast from society when she discovers her magic is unlike anyone else. While Clara searches for a place or a way to fit in with her peers, she realizes that she is always meant for something more. Similar to Asly, Clara was able to bring people together through her differences and even taught them how to use their powers to work together. The book also explores the relationship between humans and climate change reflecting Asly’s growing concerns with sustainable fashion.

Readers interested in witches, climate change, elemental magic, and romance will love this story by Rachel Griffin. Clara is a once-in-a-generation witch whose power is tied to all four seasons. People have caused irreparable harm to the climate causing natural disasters that even the witches can’t control. It’s up to Clara to use her power to protect the world, but it may come at the cost of the people she loves.

Ava Iranpour Asly’s designs are made for people who love to stand out and experiment with their clothes. If you want to see more of her designs, you can visit her Depop shop or Instagram. If you love books where the line between duty and love becomes blurred, you should check out The Nature of Witches. Please support your local bookstores and check there first for the book, but you can also find it online.