Fashion-Jihad in Iran: Illicit fashion shows thrive in Islamic Republic
You must read this article. It illustrates the dichotomy that is Iran. This is what happens when you police morality by force and intimidation.
Skinny, long-legged models giggle as they slip into outfits of satin and silk. A red carpet serves as a runway.A clandestine Tehran fashion show glitters gloriously to life
We love it so much because the clerics hate it." She and others taking part and watching the show asked that their family names not be published for fear of retribution.Economic troubles loom here as the United Nations tightens sanctions against Iran, trying to coerce it into suspending its nuclear program.
Dissidents are tossed into jail and newspapers shuttered.But this season in Tehran, despite a public crackdown on men and women showing too much flesh in public, fantasy and funky fabrics are in. For the mostly young crowd attending this show...
Since the beginning of the Islamic Republic 28 years ago, those who opposed Iran's Islamic system have carved out sanctuaries from its restrictions. Those islands have become more and more elaborate. They include outlandish liquor- and drug-soaked parties, art exhibitions, showings of banned movies, hip-hop concerts.
...At least one major Internet service provider even forbids Google searches for the word "fashion."None of that deterred Sadaf, the 30-year-old designer behind this showcase. For dozens of days and sleepless nights, she planned and organized. She scoured the bazaars for exotic fabrics. She scribbled designs onto scraps of paper in a spare room of her parents' flat in north Tehran, then hired a tailor to turn her concepts into clothing. She took the risky step of asking a friend to put up a website, http://www.sadaft.com/ ...Sadaf's outfits range in price from $130 to $760, a fortune in a country where schoolteachers earn about $2,500 a year. She sells four outfits this night, enough to cover the rent...more
ABF, for the promotion of human rights and democracy in Iran
2 comments:
I love your new look! Nice article, too. :)
I read the article, Serendip. I have mixed feelings about this, as on one hand I believe everyone should be free to choose their attire and fashion designers must not be treated like criminals, working under such pressure just to create their art. On the other hand, however, this story tells of the serious economic class difference in Iran, where when our teachers are arrested because they protest their insufficient income, others attend fashion shows with sequined dresses and are ready, willing, and able to pay $130 to $760 for an outfit. The gap is so disturbing. I also worry for the designer now that her website with her full name is announced along with details of the event in print. Another set of contradictions we are left to juggle and balance when thinking about Iran, yikes.
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