HOW DID YOU FIRST BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH JONATHAN COHEN?

I met Jonathan and Sarah while I was working at Vogue Magazine as they’re so loved by Vogue and deeply involved with the CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund. I instantly adored them and felt so drawn to the brand.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE STYLES YOU DID TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED IN

I’ve always loved Jonathan Cohen’s designs because they evoke JOY. Through colors and textures and shapes - they’re reminiscent of the beauty all around us.

THE FASHION INDUSTRY IS CHANGING AT SUCH A RAPID PACE. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE OF FASHION? ADDITIONALLY, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MOST EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE OF FASHION?

Being mindful of the industry’s impact on the environment. I have always loved how Jonathan Cohen has prioritized sustainability from day one with transparency and innovation. They are so creative with their use of deadstock fabrics. While Fashion's environmental impact is a challenge for the industry, it’s also an opportunity for brands to showcase greater creativity, heart, and reverence for Mother Nature.

YOUR BUSINESS, 14TH NIGHT, JUST CELEBRATED TWO YEARS! CONGRATULATIONS! WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE PART OF CREATING THIS BRAND?

Thank you!! I created this brand to be the haircare line I myself was seeking — clean, natural beauty that is as luxurious as effective. Turning to my Persian Heritage, and bringing prized beauty botanicals like pomegranate and almond oils in my formulations feels like such a special way to honor my culture and the ancestral beauty rituals I grew up with. The fact that people love it as much as I do, makes it all the sweeter!

HOW DO YOU SEE 14TH NIGHT PLAYING A ROLE IN FASHION?

I love seeing models with natural hair on the runways and in editorial shoots where the focus is on clothes. 14th Night helps make everyone’s natural hair look its best. Suitable for all hair types and textures, it adds shine, bounce, and lets natural texture radiate without frizz. I loved seeing natural hair or simple, clean blowouts at NYFW this year as it was the perfect complement to the season’s fashion.

WHAT WAS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ADJUSTMENT BETWEEN EDITING AT VOGUE, THEN TO BE FOUNDER OF YOUR COMPANY?

Vogue is such an established brand name with a very clear legacy — you have a leadership team and a very clear brand blueprint to follow. By contrast, 14th Night is a brand I started totally from scratch — everything from the brand name (a Persian reference to beauty comparing one’s radiance to the light of the 14th Night of the moon), to the logo and all the formulations came from me. This involves a deep level of autonomy and I really had to lean in to my intuition to trust my brand and product visions.

IS THERE A MOMENT THAT HAS BEEN THE MOST MEMORABLE WITHIN YOUR CAREER?

Ahh there are so many! I think watching Brooke Shields (who is a hair icon in my mind) use the hair elixir in her beauty secrets video calling it “Magic in a Bottle” will forever b a pinch me moment. But honestly, anytime I read a DM or get a custom review from someone saying how much they love my products - I’m over the moon with gratitude and delight.

WHAT IS YOUR ADVISE TO PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING TO BUILD THEIR OWN BRAND?

Do something you truly love because when you have your own business, no matter how much you try, you never stop thinking about it. I feel like I sleep, wake, live, breathe 14th Night and I don’t mind it one bit because I genuinely love it so much.

YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU LOVE TO TRAVEL, IN A SAFARA INTERIEW. ARE YOU TYPICALLY DRAWN TO DESINTATIONS YOU CAN SURF. DO YOUR TRIPS VARY?

YES! Especially in the past few years, I think every vacation I’ve taken has been somewhat revolved around surf. My ideal trip is where I can mix culture, art, fashion and food with a few surf days. Last April my brother and I travel to Portugal — we split our time in Lisbon, Cascais, and Porto and it was perfect because I got a little of everything.

HOW DOES SURFING MOTIVATE YOU IN OTHER AREAS OF LIFE?

It definitely forces you to be present — When you’re in the water, without a phone, so focused on the waves and people around you, you’re hyper aware to the present moment. It’s a state I try to tap into when I’m not in the water.

BEING ABLE TO MAKE A CAREER OUT OF A CHILDHOOD PASSION IS SO SPECIAL. DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO GO IN THIS DIRECTION

When I was 13, my teacher asked us to write about what we wanted to be when we grow up. Believe it or not, I wrote that I wanted to have my own beauty line sold at Neiman Marcus (There was one at the mall near my house in Chicago and the beauty floor was my favorite). When 14th Night launched at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman last summer, it felt surreal to have this childhood dream come to life— especially when my path to it wasn’t so linear. I definitely believe I needed all the career experiences working in fashion, at Vogue, and even going to business school to bring the dream to fruition but I can’t help but smile thinking about the power of intention.

WHERE DO YOU ASPIRE TO SEE THIS "MAGIC IN A BOTTLE" IN THE FUTURE

Global!! I get so many emails from all over the world, The UK, The Middle East, Latin America saying they heard about the brand or saw it somewhere in press and want to try it out. I hope to be in stores around the world so everyone, everywhere can experience it first hand.