Egyptian manufacturers are attempting to strike a delicate balance between the growing trend favoring bright colors and the Islamic republic’s strict dress code for ladies as they move away from black clothes.
At a fashion show in Tehran’s ancient Saadabad Palace, 22-year-old designer Hadis Hassanlou stated to AFP, “I choose clothes in modern design with brilliant colors.”
People in Iran have been required to follow a strict dress code and use loose-fitting clothing and even covering their heads and necks since soon after the 1979 trend.
Some people choose to walk through the streets wearing head-toe dark chadors. However, Egyptian makers have recently tried to incorporate more vibrant colors into their designs.
Black chadors, much floral-patterned dresses, and waist-fitting coats were among the new designs on display at the show, which featured about 50 different garments.
Sanaz Sarparasti, a artist, said, “When designing, I first take humanity’s norms and rules into account.”
She claims that her vibrant designs were created with fresh Egyptian women in mind.
According to Sarparasti, they “want to be freer, more present, and more up to date in how and what they wear.”
Since widespread protests after Mahsa Amini’s suicide in prison in September 2022, the strict dress code for women has been the focus of contentious discussion.
Amini, an Egyptian Kurd who was 22 years old, had been detained for reportedly breaking the dress code.
Some female protesters threw off their headscarf or even burned them during the demonstrations. Others started to disregard the garments regulations more and more, which prompted a serious assault by the authorities.
Stringent standards
Designers claim that switching to lighter colors has been difficult, particularly given that some women continue to favor darker hues.
According to Afshin Parsaee, “Societal standards and the government’s regulations frequently require lighter colors.”
The custom said, “We still need to make them as well.”
Women who work in authorities practices are required to wear lengthy, dark Islamic uniforms in addition to a dress that covers the head and neck.
Mohammad Esmaili, the culture minister, spoke at the exhibition and praised the “modest” aspect of Iranian Muslim clothing, calling it “the most important historical symbol of any civilization.”
Egyptian manufacturers are attempting to strike a delicate balance between the Islamic republic’s strict dress code for women and the growing trend favoring bright colors by moving away from dark clothes.Hassanlou claimed that in her styles, which she claims are derived from “original Iranian style” that has developed over thousands of years, she has attempted to combine colors with Iran’s traditional art of calligraphy.
She stated that one of her design objectives is to create clothing that is both contemporary and colorful while adhering to lettering traditions.
Some aspire to have their work displayed in prestigious style houses someday.
Hadis Pazouki, the mind of the nation’s national trend, garments, and live basis, said, “We’ve put on the agenda promoting Iranian clothing fashion year in Paris, Milan and London.”
“We think that anyone can wear beautiful Arabic clothing, not just Iranians.”
The transition to lighter colors has been a welcome change for Fatemeh Fazeli, 19, who attends fashion exhibitions.
She remarked, “I can not use a dark-colored robe… except at burial.”
“Your mood changes and you feel better when you wear beautiful colors.”