Thomas Cristofoletti

Iran’s booming consumer culture
Iranians are increasingly buying into Western-style consumerism, despite sanctions and often high prices.

selected works

Consumerism in Iran — June 29, 2014 – Shiraz, Iran. A woman shops at Hyperstar, Iran’s first international-style hypermarket, built inside the Persian Gulf Complex, a huge mall located a few kilometers outside Shiraz. Hyperstar plans to open 15 branches by 2015 in 5 different cities. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

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June 10, 2014 – Tehran, Iran. Pantyhose packages are seen with makeshift censorship markings on the model’s arms and legs. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

June 18, 2014 – Isfahan, Iran. Traditional Islamic black chadors are sold at the local Bazaar. Iranian women are increasingly reluctant to comply with government-imposed traditional dress codes and many have started to go around the prohibitions, wearing western-style hi jabs, made of fashionable fabrics. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

June 19, 2014 – Isfahan, Iran. A woman shops in an appliance center inside the Isfahan City Center Mall, one of the biggest in the country. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

full project

“Hailing from the Italian Alps, Thomas Cristofoletti has been working in Southeast Asia as a humanitarian photographer and videographer for the last three years.
Based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, he’s also the co-founder of RUOM, a collective of journalists specializing in social reportage throughout Southeast Asia.
His work has been featured in campaigns for international NGOs such as WWF, UNDP, USAID, The Elephant Foundation, and UNICEF.
Especially passionate about climate change, Thomas’ long-term project focuses on the effects of development on the Mekong region.
Thomas’ photographs have been featured in international magazines and newspapers such as The New York Times, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, Le Monde, Vice, The Financial Times, Forbes and The Global Post.”