Nima
Cyrus Jarvis: Let’s start off with your background. Could you tell us who you are, in your own words?
I’m Nima, I’m 24. I do a few things. One of them is styling, sometimes for people or brands. I’ve always been hooked on design and reinvention. Clothes go beyond fashion and trends for me. They’re a mirror of the streets and culture, a tool of identity… a way to speak without words.
CJ: Could you describe what you’re wearing? Where are they from?
My outfit’s a mix of classic and personal. Black Doc Martens 1461 on my feet, Japanese selvedge denim from DSQUARED². The top is a Vivienne Westwood polo shirt, layered with a Schott NYC bomber on top. Actually – in some of the photos, I’m wearing a selvedge trucker jacket from John Lewis. And the beanie is handmade with love by my mum… nobody could sew it better than her really.
CJ: What influences your style?
My style comes from chaos and street culture. I’m really drawn to the beauty in chaos and in wreckage… I’m a bit of a dreamer. As I said before though, I don’t see clothes as trends. To me, they’re little bits of memories, like flashes of culture. Even a stain or a ripped seam says something. I’m also really inspired by Vivienne Westwood. She once said, “Buy less, choose well, make it last,” and that always sticks with me.
CJ: How do you decide what to wear day-to-day?
I pick what I wear with my gut and I don’t think about comfort. Even if it’s awkward, tight, or ‘too much,’ I wear what I want. I like a little chaos, it makes me feel myself.
CJ: Does that mean you get a bit of a public reaction sometimes when you go out?
In Tehran it used to be tough, but now if people look at me, it’s with curiosity and there’s a good vibe with it. Each district has its own energy as well, so I like seeing how they react differently.
Soheil
CJ: So, tell us a bit about yourself. Who are you?
I’m Soheil and I’m 26. I’m a fashion design student, stylist, and model. I’m originally from Maku, which is a city on the border with Turkey, but I’ve been living in Tehran since 2018. I do speak fluent Turkish as well. I started off in fashion by teaching myself how to sew through YouTube, and I’m still making clothes to this day.
CJ: What are you wearing for your shoot?
The trousers and shirt are from a thrift shop, and the coat is from a local brand. The shoes are from Zara, and the headpiece was handmade by myself. And I also bought the sunglasses from a random street vendor around Enghelab.
CJ: How would you describe your style?
Post-punk. I particularly love original looking pieces. What’s important to me is creativity and being distinctive rather than high-end or branded fashion.
CJ: How do you feel about dressing this way in Tehran?
I feel authentic and confident. I love my style, and my favourite places are the areas of Tehran like Sanaei or Iranshahr, where there are also lots of other people with unique styles as well. Judgement is still inevitable obviously, but most of the hate and criticism I get about my style comes from Instagram.
Sanya
CJ: Describe yourself and tell us who you are.
I’m Sayna, I’m 21 years old and I’m mostly interested in design and conceptual fashion. I also work as a stylist for different projects sometimes.
CJ: What are you wearing? Where’s it from?
I personally customised this outfit myself and for me, it’s a way of expressing my boldness. The spray paint details are deliberate to highlight that concept.
CJ: How do you decide what to wear? What’s your style like?
Creativity is the most important thing to me when it comes to my style. Expressing my individuality and being comfortable in my clothes at the same time is important, which is why I love customising my pieces. They always carry a unique touch of my very own, which gives me a sense of confidence and freedom. I also spend a lot of time on Pinterest… that’s where I find inspiration and develop my ideas.
CJ: What’s it like dressing this way outdoors? Are certain districts better than others?
I live in a neighbourhood in East Tehran, and people often notice the way I dress there. Sometimes they seem seriously surprised. I try not to let their reactions affect me and focus on expressing my personal style confidently.
Rakhshan
CJ: Let’s start off with you. What’s your name, what do you do?
My name is Rakhshan, I’m 27 years old. I work as an art director for a clothing brand called Vasleh, but my main focus right now is on painting. At the moment I’m building my first full collection that will be exhibited this winter.
CJ: Could you tell me a little bit about your style?
My style is often shaped by fashion shows, both past and present, but not in a literal way. They feel more like sparks of inspiration that stay with me, which then merge with the pieces I already own and the mood or aesthetic I’m living in at that moment. It’s less about following trends and more about weaving them into my own language, if that makes sense.
CJ: How do you decide what to wear? What’s your process like when putting outfits together?
Staying true to myself through clothing has never been simple. There are times when what I envision for myself and what I can actually wear don’t fully align… but I try to find ways even in the smallest details to keep a sense of honesty with myself, to let a trace of who I am slip through. Of course I’ve been judged in public, many times, and I still am. But strangely, I find something I like in that feeling, because it gives me a sense of courage. Depending on where you are in Tehran though, that judgment can feel very different.
Afarin
CJ: What’s your name? How would you describe yourself?
I’m Afarin, I’m 20 and currently studying architecture but fashion has always been my biggest passion, from modeling and photography to clothing and design, and I always knew this was something I wanted to build a career out of. I didn’t grow up knowing much about the industry. I just knew I loved it, so over time I started figuring out my style and learning more.
CJ: What are you wearing today?
Parts of the outfit that I’m wearing today would definitely be considered revealing by Iran’s legal standards and wouldn’t survive a walk down most Tehran streets. It breaks the dress code in a few obvious ways, but I put it together based on what feels right for me, not what’s considered acceptable. My shoes are tabis from a Persian brand called Around Divine, the trousers are Jaded London, my top’s thrifted and the bag is vintage Guess.
CJ: What’s your style inspiration?
Black has always felt the safest and strongest color for me and I always mix my outfits with silver jewelry without thinking. I lean more toward simple pieces but I like when something is a little revealing, like sheer fabrics, low backs or drippy fabrics. I get a lot of inspiration from social media, seeing what people are wearing now or used to wear, but I don’t like to follow trends and wear any new piece that’s trending – I usually get tired of them after wearing them more than two times, so I get inspiration from things that feel like me and I usually know if something’s ‘me’ the second I see it.
CJ: Do you feel comfortable with your style? Are you able to wear what you like outdoors or around certain people or situations?
I feel true to myself in how I dress because I don’t follow Iran’s dress code. I break the rules as much as I can, and I don’t let [the authorities] decide what I wear. I like showing skin, not for attention, but because I don’t think it says anything bad about you. It doesn’t lower your worth. I dress as freely as I can without putting myself in danger. I’ve always liked being a bit of a rebel. It feels more honest than pretending to follow rules I don’t believe in. I definitely get looks, especially in certain parts of Tehran where I have to be more careful. But if I like my outfit, I don’t really care what people say or think. I always block it out. When someone stares, I just assume they think it looks cool, and even when people throw me backhanded comments, I usually just say “I like it like this,” I don’t take it personally. I don’t want to blend in. Not everyone has to ‘get it,’ and I’m not dressing for approval.
Ardavan
CJ: Could you tell us a bit about yourself and who you are?
My name’s Ardavan and I’m 21.
CJ: What are you wearing today and where are they from?
Basically, I love to wear unique and vintage clothes. So my Ferrari race leather jacket is from the 90s. I also love a vintage belt, so I have many of those. As for my trousers, baggy jeans always make me crazy. Timberland boots are also a necessary part of my style. In general, I prefer to use simple accessories.
CJ: What influences your style?
Mostly hiphop culture, but I enjoy experimenting and finding styles that look good to my eyes and I feel comfortable in. I find many of them worth trying so I’ve got many different types of pieces in my closet.
CJ: Do you feel authentic and comfortable in what you wear?
Of course. But as long as I’m in a place where I don’t feel judged. Those places are the ones where I can pull out the experimental looks.
CJ: Does that mean there are certain places where you feel people are often judging you?
Obviously, Tehran is a place where almost anyone is worthy of being talked about and judged. However, most of the styles I find comfortable are the ones that have always been somewhat palatable. I just prefer to wear pieces that are a little more avant-garde in places I feel more comfortable. I believe any outfit has to be suited for the place it is going to be worn in.
Credits:
Writer – Cyrus Jarvis
Photographer – Puria Berenji
