Despite US sanctions, a small class of wealthy Iranians in luxury. Have your kids wear American brand clothes and splurge in social networks. Millions of Iranians to buy counterfeit Goods, in order to imitate them.
The Grand Bazaar of Tehran is considered to be the heart of the Iranian economy. In a part of the market materials are sold by weight. Here, kilos of fake cloth badges of well-known and more expensive Western luxury brands on the table: Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, Lee, Nike and co. The demand for fake Glamour is great to go.
In the Nike store in Sana Shopping centre in the North of Tehran, the real product is. “We take our Goods directly from abroad, for example from Dubai,” says the young salesman Mehdi in telephone conversation with the DW from Tehran. His clientele is challenging and could afford to pay for your claims. “Our customers travel around the world and identify the real Goods with a view,” says Mehdi.
You deserve nothing else ..
Western Original products for the Privileged
The Sana Shopping Center is one of several newly built shopping centers in the North of Tehran. Here, in the foothills of the Alborz mountains, there used to be gardens and Orchards. Kings had their palaces. Today, officials and politicians of the Islamic Revolution of life here. Your neighbors are often business people, have to a large part of a good relationship with the powers that be. It is no secret that Iran’s economy suffers from corruption and nepotism.
In spite of sanctions, this clientele can find here everything, what to buy for money, original products “Made in USA”. For example, backpacks from Nike: “a costs the equivalent of 68 euros,” says the seller, Mehdi. “The are currently selling very well. Many Teenagers will love”.
68 euros is a small fortune in Iran. The average income is 400 euros per month. But only if you used the official subsidised exchange rate. The is about 48.000 Rial for one Euro. This course gets you but only if you have to change to example, money for the purchase of medicines. On the free market, you get only a third: Because you have to pay for a Euro 145.000 Rial. For most of the import products have become priceless.
Consumption temple Sana Shopping Center in Tehran
Consumption in the midst of the economic crisis
The country has been stuck for more than a year in an economic crisis. In may 2018, the year US President Donald Trump, the nuclear deal with Iran unilaterally denounced had started a campaign of “maximum pressure” and the sanctions excessive. In the result, the Rial has lost dramatically in value. Inflation has risen massively. Some economic experts estimate that the purchasing power of Iranians has decreased in the last few months by 80 percent.
As the clientele of the “Sana Shopping Center” shows, doesn’t make the crisis all the same hard. “I love quality, and I like to give money,” says Saba to the DW. She is in her early 30’s and with a business man married. What does your husband do not want to tell you. The Couple lives you Elahieh in a penthouse in the Northern Tehran district. The apartments here can cost up to 4000 euros per square meter. “As my Girlfriends and I will buy more abroad if I’m on vacation. I don’t buy much. But I have Friends who always wear the latest fashion from Paris or Italy. Your men earn in euros or dollars. Who gets the money in Rial, can’t afford such things, of course”.
Even the grandson of Ayatollah Khomeini, the political and religious leader of the Islamic Revolution of 1979, wearing U.S. brands. Last year, a photo of Ahmad Khomeini, caused a lot of criticism. It showed the 21-year-old spiritual with fashionable sunglasses and Nike Sweatshirt next to a young woman with a riding helmet in a riding club. His great-grandfather was the leader of a Revolution that had promised to the poor and the Disadvantaged a better life. Just the moaning, but now under the pressure of U.S. sanctions.
For Khomeini’s picture, you can not buy a lot of
Growing Inequality
The gap between rich and poor is growing. Of the 81 million Iranians in two million, i.e. approximately 2.5 per cent will apply as income. A family of four in this category has not at least 1300 euros a month available, according to statistics that were published prior to the economic crisis in Iran.
An even thinner layer of the Rich, who receive their income in dollars and the Euro. They do not hide their wealth. Especially in social networks is often off. The Instagram Account “Rich Kids of Tehran” has 146.000 Followers. To see images of beautiful and rich young people in expensive luxury clothes in posh villas. Your life style is the dream of many young Iranians. But most can only afford the counterfeit Logos or embroidered clothing can be delivered from the Grand Bazaar of Tehran to the whole country.