Italian Experts: Iranian Fashion Industry Has Great Potentials

TEHRAN. (Iranart) – Top scholars from the Italian university of Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera believe there are great potentials for Iran’s fashion industry.

Speaking to Honaronline, Sergio Venuti, who had a training workshop at this year’s Fashion and Clothing Festival in Chabahar, said I have been to Iran twice: This year’s festival could be a trend-setter. Many students were passionate about learning the craft – unlike what I have seen in Italy. I never experienced such an overwhelming enthusiasm for taking part in my workshops.

The Italian scholar added: We had no idea what to do last year. But this time we knew what we had to achieve. Many students told me they now have the courage to enter the fashion industry and create a brand for themselves. This has to be the best outcome of the workshops.

According to Venuti, it is important to organize training workshops and hands-on experience during the annual event. They help explore how fashion is connected with other concepts, such as style, fashion design and collections, as well as fashion industry and more. Students should be well educated in art, aesthetic theories on one hand, and on the other, be creative and capable of coming up with individual and challenging ideas and concepts. Our workshops provided a comprehensive understanding and foundation in all of these aspects. The organizers need to keep that in mind.

On the future of Iran’s fashion industry, Venuti said the Iranian fashion designers have what it takes to be part of the global fashion industry.

Also speaking to Honaronline, Luca Ghirardosi, another scholar from Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera, said I am happy with the outcome of this year’s workshops: Our focus was from idea to execution. We shared our experiences and cultural commonalities in the field. My students were passionate about fashion, especially women.

The Italian university scholar added: I loved the art of embroidery in Sistan and Baluchestan. I will take with me some samples to Italy. I will show them to a number of fashion companies and they might decide to use them in their brands.

In conclusion, Ghirasdosi said: What you see in Iran as fashion is not what we have in the West. The concepts of fashion are different. Fashion is what people wear in the West where not even two clothes are the same. But here in Chabahar, all clothes are identical and generic. People wear similar clothes. That’s why it is hard to compare them with international models and concepts.

The 8th edition of the Fajr International Festival of Fashion and Clothing was held from 14 to 17 February 2019 for the first time in Chabahar, Sistan and Baluchestan province, in the south east of Iran to display Iranian art at international level. The eighth edition hosted 18 countries from Asia and Europe. Tunisia, Singapore, Canada, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Italy, Syria, Oman, France, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iraq, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Turkey, Spain and Indonesia attended the festival.