From visionaries to venture-backed, BTB’s limited series goes inside the minds shaping tomorrow’s economy. We speak to the founders, funders, and trailblazers reimagining value, not just through balance sheets, but cultural influence. What drives them? What defines their north star? And what separates conviction from noise? Find out below.
Iranian-Canadian designer Dorian Rahimzadeh, known professionally as Dorian Who, is the founder and creative force behind her eponymous label—a brand rooted in bold prints, cultural heritage, and a belief in slow, intentional fashion. Her work merges maximalist design with storytelling, challenging traditional ideas of luxury while staying deeply personal and community-aware. In a world of fast trends, Rahimzadeh is building a brand defined by soul, sustainability, and unmistakable identity.
In her debut with Beyond the Boardroom’s Founders & Funders, Rahimzadeh speaks openly about the origins of her aesthetic, shaped by a childhood surrounded by Persian rugs and the visual language of ‘80s and ‘90s fashion. That early immersion in texture and nostalgia still defines her work today, with bold prints and cultural motifs forming the backbone of her collections.
She reflects on her most recent line, describing it as a creative and emotional breakthrough. “It pushed me in every way, but it opened doors,” she says. “It made me feel more connected to my work than ever.” That sense of connection—to her culture, her craft, and her customer—is something she refuses to compromise.
Rahimzadeh also shares the complexities of running a fully self-funded label from Canada, where local production is costly and deadstock fabric (her material of choice) introduces both ethical value and operational constraint. The result is fashion with built-in scarcity and story. “It takes passion, resilience, and constant problem-solving,” she says.
When it comes to the global luxury market, particularly in the Gulf, Rahimzadeh doesn’t position herself against legacy houses like Louis Vuitton or Gucci. Instead, she leans into her lived experience. “I come from the culture. I’ve lived in that environment,” she explains. “That creates a more genuine connection than simply targeting the region for its wealth.”
The conversation spans sustainability, cultural representation, and long-term ambition including her dream of designing a car, and why she believes Dubai is poised to become the region’s next global fashion capital.
Watch the full conversation above to see how Rahimzadeh is scaling a brand with purpose, power, and print, on her own terms.