In the first part of our Destination by Design 2024 edition where fashion designers spill their best-kept travel secrets—and how these locations have influenced their work—we talk to Cult Gaia’s Jasmin Larian Hekmat about the hidden gems of the California’s coast
If you're looking for inspiration for your next travel destination, there is an unlikely source you've probably not even thought about: fashion designers. It makes sense, designers are always on the lookout for inspiration for their next collection and adventures are full of opportunities that spark inspiration. Many designer brands have been built on their founders’ insatiable wanderlust or the love they have for the place they call home. From the most secluded coves in Turkey to the most untouched beaches in Thailand, fashion designers have been inspired by some of the world’s most beautiful locations.
In our four-part series of the 2024 edition of Destination by Design series, these globe-trotting designers spill their best-kept travel secrets to Tatler and tell us how these destinations have formed the basis of their collections. In the first part, we talk to Jasmin Larian Hekmat, the founder and creative mind behind Cult Gaia on how Big Sur is not only a part of the brand’s DNA, but also of her and her husband’s love story.
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Cult Gaia’s Summer Sculpt (Photo: courtesy of Cult Gaia)
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Born to a sculptor mother and father who ran the toy company behind Bratz dolls, Larian Hekmat spent most of her childhood surrounded by art and fashion. After studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, Larian Hekmat first began making flower crowns and turbans using vintage fabrics before launching the viral Ark bag in 2012. Since then, she has turned Cult Gaia’s cult following into a global brand beloved by the likes of Chrissy Teigan and Hailey Bieber, and the go-to Californian-chic label for the beach and beyond.
