Farzam Sarmiento The Bachelor:
Farzam Sarmiento talks about his multi-cultural background, and why it’s important to him to integrate Iran’s art into the Philippine setting
THERE’S BEAUTY found in every piece of art. And for Farzam Sarmiento, this holds true. He’s deeply rooted in Iran—this is where he grew up and it is also where his family resides. A very unique artistic element to Iran’s culture are their handmade carpets, which Sarmiento has grown to love. “I wanted to introduce Iranian culture to the Philippines,” he shares. “My mom is Filipino-Spanish and my father is Persian. I grew up in Iran but I love the Philippines too much, so I decided to stay here.” Sarmiento moved to the Philippines in 2008, taking his undergraduate studies and immersing himself in everything the country had to offer, from the hustle and bustle of the city life in Manila, to the tranquil bliss of the islands. Sarmiento has fallen in love and found many reasons to stay. To further develop his artistic interests, he took courses in interior design and decoration. He eventually put up his own business, The Farzam Collection, as an ode to Iranian roots and the beauty he finds in the art of handmade carpets. Sarmiento carefully curates a collection of carpets and sells them at his showroom located in Makati. Beyond selling his carpets, he also loves to decorate. He believes that the carpet is a design piece that completes any room. Sarmiento shares, “I’ve been wanting to focus on the art of my carpets because it strongly reflects Persian culture. The carpet is really good, sound example of building up the culture of the era. You could tell that our culture is full of energy, and at the same very reminiscent of the war. You can see that we’re full of art and passion. This piece, single piece of the carpet, truly shows the patience and creativity of the artisans.” He is able to express his love and passion through his business in carpets and interior design. It may not be easy, but Sarmiento is determined more than ever to make a cultural impact, and do what he can to introduce Iranian art and culture to the Filipino people. Where do you see yourself in the next five years? My goal is to expand my business and build a bigger corporation. I would also like to be more established as an interior designer. What are you passionate about? Create, create, create! To create my own furniture as well. What’s the one thing that annoys you the most? Pollution. A crowded place with too many people. What do you hope to achieve before you’re 40? I want to be one of the best designers, at least in the Philippines. What are some similarities you find between Iran’s culture and the Philippines’ culture today? For one thing, both Iranians and Filipinos are very warm people. They’re very welcoming and have a strong sense of family. If there’s one person you’d like to meet and grab a coffee with, who would that be? Pablo Picasso. He’s very influential and I’d like to interview him.