Imported jeans made their debut in Iran decades ago, but their domestic production started only in 1997.
Iranian denims are mainly produced in the cities of Yazd, Ardabil and Isfahan. However domestic production can only meet 20% to 30% of the demand at home, the Persian daily Forsat-e Emrooz reported.
Often the term “jeans” refers to a particular style of trousers called “blue jeans,” which were invented by Jacob Davis Levi Strauss in 1873. Jeans are typically made from denim or dungaree cloth, and come in many forms and colors. The annual turnover of jeans industry stands at $20 billion in the US alone.
Most of the fabric needed to make jeans is imported from China, India, Pakistan and Turkey.
An expert, who was not named in the report, said production of the fabric offers great investment opportunities as Iranian youths have a penchant for jeans.
The expert said at least 24 million pairs of jeans are required annually.
“Currently, over 30 million meters of denim available in the country are sufficient for domestic production, but imports from China are twice that of local production. This is while Iranian factories are operating at 20% of their production capacity,” he said.
The first step toward the establishment of a small jeans production workshop is to look for a proper place and skilled staff. Marketing, distribution and publicity are essential components of a successful business enterprise, and jeans are no exception.
Local manufacturers wrestle with numerous problems despite their high potential. Problems such as constant change of policies pose an obstacle.
Rumors have it that Turkey is seeking to invest in Iran’s denim manufacturing sector, which will make business highly competitive for Iranian producers.
Nevertheless, an Iranian manufacturer believes jeans production is lucrative since they are widely worn by people in all four seasons.
“Jeans made with Iranian fabrics are $3 cheaper than their foreign counterparts, but the skills of Iranian tailors are no less excellent,” he said.
