Mersedeh Heydari is a force to be reckoned with—a visionary entrepreneur from Iran who has turned her passion for creativity and education into a powerful movement. As the founder of a successful Fashion Academy and Creative Studio, she has helped shape the careers of over 3,000 students, many of whom are now thriving in the fashion industry. But her work goes far beyond teaching technical skills; she’s committed to breaking barriers, providing scholarships, and creating real opportunities for aspiring creatives, especially women.
Now based in London, Mersedeh is taking things to the next level by studying game design, bridging the worlds of fashion and gaming in ways never seen before. Her mission? To redefine industries, push creative boundaries, and build a global platform where talent—no matter where it comes from—can shine.
In this exclusive interview with Women On Topp, Mersedeh Heydari shares her inspiring journey—from overcoming societal challenges in Iran to leading a creative revolution. She opens up about the moments that shaped her, the struggles that made her stronger, and her vision for a future where women’s voices in fashion, gaming, and business are not just heard, but celebrated.
Growing up in Iran, how did your cultural background shape your values and aspirations as a creative leader?
From an early age, I learned not to settle for a simple or dismissive “no.” This mindset deepened when I became a designer. Life in Iran, with its challenges and restrictions, showed me that “no” isn’t just an answer—it’s an invitation to think more creatively.
Barriers like limited internet access, lack of investment in young ideas, or cultural stereotypes against women taught me to think bigger and, if no path existed, to design one. This perspective became a philosophy of life, and today, as a creative leader, it defines my ability to solve complex problems and discover innovative solutions.
Iran taught me that innovation is about transforming “no” into “how can we make it a yes?”
Can you share a defining moment in your life that motivated you to pursue your dreams?
There are thousands of reasons why I chose to be an entrepreneur, but one unforgettable night during the pandemic stands out as the most impactful. While many businesses were struggling during COVID, I had managed to build a strong presence in Iran through some creative innovations in my online teaching of design and fashion. Financially, it was a good time—until the virus came knocking at my door.
We all caught COVID, but my mom’s condition was critical. Her medications were ridiculously expensive—about five times the average monthly salary in Iran. That night, I found myself faced with an impossible choice: losing my mom or somehow coming up with the money to pay for her treatment. Thankfully, I managed to get her the medicine she needed, but it drained everything I had, and I couldn’t shake the fear of what tomorrow might bring.
Something shifted in me that night. I promised myself to grow—not just for me, but for others too. I wanted to create a space where my colleagues wouldn’t have to think twice about paying for emergencies—or even life’s little joys. Everyone deserves to breathe freely, without their wallets taking the hit
How do you balance pursuing your education in game design while managing your businesses?
Oh, I grew up believing the big lie that one day I’d figure out how to balance life and work perfectly. Honestly? For anyone trying to be an entrepreneur, there’s no such thing as balance in the early years. Maybe it existed decades ago, but today, the world is growing and evolving at an insane speed. If you try to build things slowly, you might end up with a beautiful baroque-style house in a city filled with skyscrapers. And worse, by the time you finish, the materials you used for that house—read: business—might not even fit the world anymore. You’d have no choice but to tear it all down and start over.
What helped me survive this chaos was systematization and building a strong team. It allowed me to manage my time more efficiently and waste less energy. Here’s the fun part: all my employees were once students at my academy. Turns out, training your future team before hiring them is a pretty genius move!
How do you identify and nurture talent in your academy and creative studio?
Our programs take a fresh and innovative approach. In our courses, students not only learn technical skills but also develop what I like to call their “power” skills. One of the most valuable aspects of our academy is that we’re the only one in Iran to offer access to a therapist—completely free of charge. I owe this idea to my own university, the University of East London, where I first experienced the impact of such support.
We also award five annual scholarships to students who have demonstrated their talent through their work but lack the financial means to continue their education. As a private academy, we are the only one in Iran to offer this opportunity.
In addition to these features, our annual competition, where winners receive funding to support their projects, reflects our central mission: we deeply value our students. We believe that with the right and standardized education, anyone can grow in their own path. This is something our students genuinely feel here—they feel at home. We love and respect each of them for who they are, embracing their unique personalities and abilities.
Finally, being based in London allows me to consistently align our programs with international standards, giving our academy a distinct competitive edge in the industry.
Can you share an example of a student or project from your academy or studio that makes you especially proud?
Personally, I’m incredibly proud of how quickly our students grow and thrive with the right guidance.
One of the most surprising things people mention when they first hear about us is their assumption that we only provide advanced fashion courses. This misconception often stems from the high quality of our students’ work—many people find it hard to believe that some of these impressive projects are created by students after just eight online sessions!
Last year, I launched a creative studio—Moodi Studio—alongside the academy, and I’m proud to share that 10 of our talented students are now part of this studio. We’ve built an environment where creativity knows no boundaries, focusing on both physical and digital projects related to fashion and gaming.
Over the past year, we’ve achieved outstanding sales results and gained rapid recognition in London. Watching our students evolve into professionals who bring fresh, innovative perspectives to the industry has been incredibly rewarding. Now, we’re designing a game for one of the biggest fashion brands in Iran, which is a major milestone for us. And our next step? Collaborating with international brands and bringing our creative approach to a global audience
What led to your decision to merge the fields of fashion and gaming, and what opportunities do you see in this combination?
We’ve seen many games where fashion brands make an appearance through a few skins, like Balenciaga in Fortnite. But as someone who understands the importance of storytelling—one of the core elements of any fashion brand—and the immense potential in this field, I found it hard to believe that a fashion brand’s involvement would be limited to just creating skins.
After extensive research, I realized there wasn’t a fashion designer who truly understood the gaming industry or at least I couldn’t find one. That’s what inspired me to pursue this direction with Moodi Studio.
Fashion and gaming are both worlds of entertainment, and the person who can fully leverage the potential of both must deeply understand them. That’s exactly what we aim to do—merge the creativity, storytelling, and artistry of fashion with the immersive, dynamic world of gaming to create something truly innovative and engaging. This is not a game, This is not a fashion story. It is all about new versions of them.
How do you approach diversity and inclusion in your businesses, particularly in empowering women?
Throughout my career, I’ve sometimes participated in projects on the design of women’s collections, where the final decisions were made by men. It’s a paradox I’ve always found odd—how can a product intended for women be directed by someone who has never experienced life as a woman? These experiences highlighted the underrepresentation of women in key decision-making roles, which is why I’ve made it a priority to change that narrative in my businesses.
In my approach, which I like to call “designing the way,” having women as collaborators in my studio and academy is not just a choice—it’s part of my DNA. It reflects my commitment to building a more inclusive industry where women’s voices, perspectives, and talents are not just acknowledged but celebrated. Empowering women, whether through education or real-world opportunities, is central to everything we do. The results speak for themselves—our team thrives because their creativity and voices are truly valued.
What are your long-term goals for your academy and studio, and how do you plan to achieve them?
My long-term goal for both the academy and the studio is to extend the impact I’ve had in Iran and expand it globally. Our plan is to evolve into an international academy. We aim to offer scholarships that will not only allow students to study abroad but also help them introduce their talent to first-world countries. Just as I was able to grow and succeed through education and an environment that nurtured my potential, I want to provide that same opportunity for other brilliant minds from developing countries.
I have a deep understanding of the challenges and needs of Iranian women, and I’m determined to gain that awareness in the UK . I want to have a positive impact on the women’s community here as well, by addressing their unique challenges and helping them grow through education and opportunity.
For me, creating a space for education and growth in countries where life conditions are tough and where there’s limited access to international opportunities is one of core values. At the same time, I believe that by my investing in Moodi Studio and its growth with its involvement in global markets, will stand as a testament to the strength of our vision and the approach we believe in
How do you measure the impact of your work on your students and the broader creative community?
We measure the impact of our work primarily through the job market integration rate of our students. Over the past five years, this metric has risen from 27% to an impressive 68%. This growth reflects the positive influence of our innovative approach on the success of our students.
On the other hand we regularly receive positive feedback from leading brands about their satisfaction in collaborating with our students, and we’ve observed a collective growth in the industry. Many business owners and professionals have credited this progress to the significant steps we’ve taken.
For instance, we were the first fashion academy in Iran to introduce courses on fashion game design, and now we’re actively creating such games in our studio. Since we pioneered this path last year, at least four other academies have added similar courses to their curriculum.
However, in the worlds of fashion and gaming, not everything is about revenue. Many pursue these fields out of passion and are seeking spaces to learn, grow, and enjoy themselves. To meet this need, we organize various online and in-person events to foster a sense of community.
Follow more of Mercedes Heydari on
Founder and Creative Director of Moodi Studio
Instagram of the Studio: Themoodistudio
Website of the studio:Themoodistudio.com
Instagram of the Academy: Hey Mers Education
The Official Page: Mersinnovation
