Mia Jafari studied visual arts and fashion at London’s prestigious Central St. Martins and Goldsmiths before launching her debut collection of hand-finished silk scarves. Her pop-culture vision brings us kaleidoscopic designs featuring Louboutin heels, cupcakes and Gaultier perfume bottles. We caught up with Mia during a break from putting together her new collection.

So, why scarves?
I started as a visual artist, doing photo-based work, but I really didn’t want my pieces to hang on a wall — I wanted something that was more versatile, that didn’t have this preciousness to it. I was eager to create something more functional, rather than aesthetic.

We’re glad you did! Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
For this particular collection, the idea was taken from Persian carpets, and then luxurious commodities. I looked at Tatler and Vogue and Cartier — I collected this huge library of luxurious objects. Cocktail glasses, earrings, anything beautiful. Once I had created this library of objects, I began to weave them into the carpet designs.

We notice a lot of references to luxury brands. Have you gotten any response from the fashion houses whose imagery appears in your scarves?
Not yet! Part of that could be that I make sure to make at least five changes to each item, and I’ve also created my own logo that appears throughout the scarves. The designs are definitely inspired by the brands, but there are so many changes that it’s not the same.

Your designs are very bright and sweet, but with an element of darkness there as well — is that intentional?
There are definitely elements of excess. I didn’t want it to be really girly — I wanted to twist things on their head. The spiders and the webs and the skulls provide a nice way of keeping it from getting too sweet and too pretty. Then again, the spiders looked nice!

Which is your favorite scarf?
Right now I’m loving Summer Breeze. It’s got the spirit of summer, and it was the last scarf I designed as well, so it feels the most advanced in terms of the techniques I explored. The colors are very fresh and it’s probably the most fun for me.

How do you wear your scarves?
I wrap them around a bag, drape them over my shoulders, or use them as a shawl. The long ones are nice to wrap around your hair. They’re really flexible and versatile.

Who would you most like to see wearing your scarves?
The scarves epitomize the spirit of the city girl. I think Sarah Jessica Parker would look fabulous in them!

What are some of the ways you fuse your background with the contemporary design?
There’s a tremendous crossover between Bond Street iconography and traditional carpet design. I received an Arts Council grant to study hand embroidery in Iran, and the templates really show a fusion — for example, Strawberry Sour is directly based on a Persian carpet. Slam Dunk features birds from a Persian carpet, modified and twisted. My dress collection, which I’m bringing out in September, is a fusion of pattern cutting in Iran and in the UK.”