“Iran’s Fashion Renaissance: Vice Presents,” is a short 2014 documentary narrated by journalist Gelareh Kiazand, as she explores the first official fashion show that was endorsed by the Iranian government post 1979 revolution. The documentary explores culture, autonomy (or lack thereof), and hope. At the Fajr Fashion Show, men and womxn sat together in the space, and the event began with Qur’anic recitation. Then, there was a recognition of top government officials who were in attendance in order to ensure that the show fit within Iran’s dress code.
Prior to the 1979 revolution and mandatory physical hijab, Iranian fashion was largely western. Interviews and explanations accumulated by Kiazand explore the nuances in the pieces presented at the fashion show, and how contemporary Iranian fashion is inextricably linked to this reality. While men have always legally been allowed to model in Iran, womxn modeling contemporarily is a new phenomena.
Sharif Razavi founded “Behpooshi,” Iran’s premier modeling agency that teaches aspiring models. For example, Bepooshi teaches womxn how to not appear sexually, as well as the differences between modeling in Iran versus other countries, specifically western ones. Razavi explains the origin of the name of his group, “In Iran we don’t refer to them as models. We made up a word for them, “behpoosh’ [well dressed]. Behpoosh is someone who wears clothes well. It’s not just about wearing the clothes well. . . their lifestyle needs to reflect our cultural values.” The “cultural values” mentioned by Razavi are inevitably linked to modesty and purity culture in Iran. he goes on to discuss the generational responsibility he believes he and his peers carry in order to ease tensions post-revolution.
According to a 2015 article titled “Start studying, it takes more than just good looks to be a model in Iran” published by Al-Monitor, Iranian models must have “qualification cards” only obtained after completing 65 hours of training, “They are trained on issues related to ‘religious teachings, technical methods for displaying/presenting a product without adornment or showing off and analyzing international research on modeling.’”
Overall, in 2014 35,000+ manufacturers sold designs across the country in response to the Fajr Fashion Show. Color was a major “advancement” commented on throughout the short documentary. One salewomxn selling manteus explains to Kiazand that a permit was granted by the Culture Ministry for a particularly bright pink garment that the womxn during the clip exclaim excitedly could not have been worn 8-10 years before.
هر پارچه طرحی و هر جامه داستانی به دنبال داره... تنبون پوشیدنیه، زیر و روش کن و قصه ی خودتو توی طرح ها پیدا کن... تا اون، جای تو روایت کنه... مراد ما حمایت از لباس ایرانی است که به عنوان یکی از نشانههای هویت ملی حفظ و ماندگار شود. @tonboon.clothes @tonboon.clothes @tonboon.clothes @tonboon.clothes #tonboonclothes #onlineshop #iranianfashion #iraniandesign #fashion#off #تنبون #زنانه #لباس #خرید_لباس #ایرانی_بپوشیم #خرید_آنلاین #طراحان_ایرانی#فروش_ویژه#تخفیف#بوهو_استايل #کلاسیک#سارافون#شلوار https://www.instagram.com/p/CFM-JoqAC90/?igshid=14nan7dsd4x2g
A traditional dress in Abyaneh village, isfahan, Iran. ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ Традиционный Платье в деревне Абиянех , Исфахан, Иран. ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ #путешествиe #iran🇮🇷 #irantravel #irantourism #iranianfashion #Girlsolovoyage #isfahantravel #путешествия #путешествие #путешествовать #TripAdvisor #ایرانگردی_آنلاین #سفر #سفر_ایرانی (at Abyaneh Village روستای ابیانه) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtIQqUtHsMr/?igshid=my9c3z9ps1f2
Every season The Tehran Times brings together works of Iranian designers and presents them as a photo story. On the event of The Tehran Times’ fifth anniversary of publication, our latest editorial will go live in a few hours. This one goes out to all 100k of our loyal followers. Stay with us and enjoy. P.S. If you are a designer and would like to have your items featured in future editorials sign up via email now. www.THETEHRANTIMES.com