Think of women's clothing and Iran and the unappealing image that springs to mind is probably the shapeless, black coverall of a traditional chador.
But the images Auckland fashion designer Jane Daniels brought back from her visit to Iran were of brilliant lemon yellow tiles, dark red pomegranate fruits, hand-woven rugs dyed deep blue or warm russet, necklaces sparkling with purple amethysts, silver beads still glowing but dark with age, intricate, brightly coloured embroidery and elegant Persian scrolls and arabesques.
And her recollections are of incredibly friendly people, women who have cleverly adapted the dress code of the mullahs to achieve a subtle glamour, an extraordinary ancient history, beautiful buildings and ever-present dust.
There are lots of different reasons to travel - to relax, explore new cultures, learn about history, meet new people, enjoy wildlife, marvel at the beauty of this world, and so on - but in Daniels' case her trips also provide fashion ideas.
Those memories from Iran have been incorporated by her into this year's winter collection - even the irritating dust inspired the design of a washable cloth shoulder bag - which includes loose-fitting trousers, mosaic-like belts, Persian patterns, arabesque designs and even a headscarf.
