In big cities all across Iran, traditional bazaars now face fierce competition from American-style urban shopping centres where big name Western brands are on conspicuous display. But although these luxury shopping centres look exactly the same as retail outlets anywhere in the world, the designer goods on display have actually been brought in by third-party importers via Turkey and the Gulf States. The outlets that sell them have no connection to the big brand manufacturers. Big Western fashion brands are not banned from doing business in Iran.
