Jasmin Larian

Jasmin Larian Hekmat’s creative foundation was shaped early by her upbringing in Los Angeles, where she was immersed in art and design. Raised by a sculptor and fashion designer mother and a father who founded MGA Entertainment, the company behind Bratz, she developed an instinct for both creativity and brand-building from a young age. She began designing clothing and concepts for dolls, an early expression of her interest in fashion as storytelling. Larian Hekmat went on to study at Otis College of Art and Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). While studying at FIT and cutting her teeth as an intern at Narciso Rodriguez and Jason Wu, she began handcrafting flower crowns for friends. Guided by a personal design philosophy of creating pieces she herself wanted to wear, these early creations quickly gained attention as distinctive, conversation-starting accessories. In 2012, she formally launched Cult Gaia, initially producing flower crowns and vintage-inspired headpieces before expanding into accessories. The brand gained international recognition with the launch of the Ark Bag in 2013, a semicircle-shaped bag crafted of bamboo that appears more an artful object than a carrying case. A conversation piece, it was toted around by girls who intended to provoke thought. When Jasmin first created the Ark bag, it was slow to catch on. It took a year of Jasmin traveling to festivals with her flower crown cart, where she would offer the bag to her customers. The bag’s rise coincided with the growth of social media, where its striking silhouette resonated with a new generation of fashion consumers. It soon became an iconic “it” piece and established Cult Gaia’s identity as a brand rooted in wearable art. Four years later, ready-to-wear became a main focus for the brand. Larian Hekmat’s firstever line of clothes was one that captured her own essence: a woman and soon-to-be mother who wholeheartedly embraced the feminine. The collections continue to evolve from season to season and evoke new iterations of the Cult Gaia woman. Building on this momentum, Larian Hekmat expanded into ready-to-wear in 2017, translating her sculptural approach into clothing that celebrates femininity and form. The brand has since evolved into a world of Cult Gaia spanning ready-to-wear, accessories, footwear, swim, children’s, fragrance, and the recent launch of Cult Gaia Men, with each category reflecting the same architectural sensibility and artistic intent. Today, Cult Gaia operates standalone retail locations in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, Miami, Las Vegas, Saint-Tropez, and Saint-Barth's. Under Larian Hekmat’s leadership, the brand has cultivated a distinct cultural point of view and loyal following, with designs that function as both fashion and objets d’art. She also currently serves as Creative Director of Bratz, shaping the next chapter of the iconic brand through her signature lens of culture, design, and storytelling. She continues to lead the brands from Los Angeles, drawing ongoing inspiration from travel, art, and her Persian heritage.