Last summer I was invited to the Sundance Producer's Lab at Robert Redford's film institute in Utah, which became an unlikely place of destiny when I was introduced to Paris-based Iranian film producer Behrooz Hashemian, who ended up being an important liaison between the Academy and Tehran in organizing our cultural mission there.
Among Behrooz's many qualities as a producer and co-producer of international co-productions in the Middle East, it was his sartorial choices that played a role in one of the most interesting non-film related experiences of my trip.
When I mentioned how I admired his uniform of a sleeveless, Nehru-style jacket/vest which we dubbed a "Behrooz", underneath a long, duster-style raincoat, he volunteered to take me to meet his tailors and get one hand-made while I was in Tehran.
Nestled between a small convenience shop that sold a delicious kind of mashed sour cherry treat that was an Iranian version of the fruit-leather sold in U.S. health food stores and an innocuous storefront that looked like it sold pre-made and custom made corporate stamps, and up a narrow flight of stairs, was the nondescript doorway that opened onto the shop of two master tailors of the kind that could be found anywhere in the world in prior generations but feel like a dying breed today.
It was a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere and there was something magical about being presented with bolts of uncut fabric and fitted with a measuring tape and pins while the tailor studied Behrooz's own "behrooz", which he intended to copy.
With a look out of central casting, they reminded me of Lee Strasberg and Art Carney in "Going In Style".
James Longley, the documentary filmmaker who was part of our delegation and has been living for years in locations like Siberia, the Gaza Strip and Iraq to make his risky, intimate films about humans living in extremis, came along for the ride, and was inspired to get his own hand-tailored suit. I don't know when he'll have too many opportunities to wear it in the small Northern Iranian town in which he is now filming, but as he has been twice nominated for the Oscar for his work, maybe we will get to see the handicraft of these two master Tailors of Tehran on the Red Carpet one year!!
Here I am back at home in my new "Behrooz":
I can't read the label in Farsi, but I love the fact that it is the mark of excellence of The Tailor of Tehran!!
william
This unique suit/vest hybrid looks very comfortable. I like it!
I'm so glad you showed us the label also. It's beautiful. My mother once made a prize-winning quilt featuring 1,500 dress labels. If she saw this label in one of my garments, it would be in jeopardy. The seam ripper would come out in an instance.
Posted by: dutchbaby | March 13, 2009 at 06:40 AM
What a fantastic portrait of you Bill. I love the purple/grey mix . Will it be showing up on elsita's colorful style posts.
I think the 5th decade of your life will be the best yet.
Posted by: margaret oomen | March 14, 2009 at 06:03 AM
Wow, very interesting (I work in fashion) - that vest/jacket is so cool! When you described it at the beginning of the post I was skeptical, but looking at it on, it looks good, like it would go with a lot! And I LOVE the tag! So jealous!
Posted by: estelluxx | March 16, 2009 at 08:57 AM
P.S. Great shot of the inside of the taylors' shop - so interesting to see where they work!
Posted by: estelluxx | March 16, 2009 at 08:58 AM
P.S. The next time you see Martin Scorsese, could you please tell him that a tailor in Tehran would like his glasses back?
Posted by: dutchbaby | March 17, 2009 at 06:28 AM
ja ja ja!!!! dutchbaby you make me laugh!!
You're so funny !!!
And Billy, this vest is even more beautiful in person.
And it looks great on you. Maybe I should post your photo on The Hidden Seed tomorrow featuring the color purple :)
http://elsita.typepad.com/thehiddenseed/
Love!
Elsita :)
Posted by: Elsita :) | March 22, 2009 at 06:35 PM