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Debenhams to open store in Iran

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Debenhams, news, Marie Claire

British high street giant Debenhams is set to open its first ever department store in Iran.

Despite the strict regime in the country where some women wear full-length burkas and cover their bodies, the company's directors see the country as an optimum area to expand into.

Debenhams' international director Francis McAuley believes Iran is 'one of the friendliest places I have been to' and explained the current fashion in the country is for young women to opt for headscarves over fully-covered burkas.

Speaking to The Sun, McAuley commented: 'It's a really self-sufficient country - they have everything except fashion so there's a real pent-up demand.

'I'm expecting the Iranian market to be similar to the rest of the Middle East.'

He added: 'And it's there that we sell our most daring lingerie - the extremely sexy stuff sells really well in Saudi Arabia.'

Men in the region can't get too excited though, as they'll be banned from picking out any lingerie gifts at the store.

Despite McAuley's laid-back attitude to the store's introduction, Iranians who chose to wear Western-style clothes were recently targeted by police. Such dressing is frowned upon by the Iranian government, but large numbers of women are choosing to ignore the stricter dress code, opting for tight trousers, make-up and their headscarves pushed back to reveal more of their faces.

Tuesday 16 December 2008

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I am a Iranian girl and live in Iran and I know what you say.many Iranian women want to wear like western women and they prefer their stuff.
Comment by soli on December 17 11:28

That is great,i bet the prices will be much cheaper an all,good stuff.
Comment by sarah on December 17 23:55

I think its an excellent Idea, for department stores like Debenhams to open store in Iran.
I have always been involved in fashion business and currently trading in UK.
I know this fact that they are already paying very high prices on fake designer look a like fashionwear.
The market is thirsty for fashion and they have a completely different life when at home.
They are covered outside by law, but inside their houses their life is totally different.

Comment by Ramin Shaker on December 21 21:11

Women in Iran don't wear 'full-length burkas'; they wear 'chadors'.
Comment by kamran on March 17 17:53

I think should be open more fashion stores with brilliant brands in Iran because i have to travel to another countries to find a gucci store!
Comment by Neda on October 25 22:22