Taraz City, Kazakhstan
CENTRAL ASIA
CEO, Founder and Producer:
Aidarkhan Kaliyev
ASPARA FASHION WEEK
XIV Season of the International Project
September 26-29, 2024
Venue: Taraz сity, Kazakhstan, “SHAHRISTAN” Exhibition Pavilion of the “Köne Taraz” ethnoculturalcomplex.
Social media pages:
https://clck.ru/QcwCc; https://clck.ru/QcwH7; https://clck.ru/QcwLA
The entire history of humanity is a dialogue of cultures that permeates our lives. Cultural interaction and dialogue form the most favorable foundation for developing interethnic and international relations. This interaction between bearers of different values allows the best elements of one culture to become part of another. Through the dialogue of cultures, mutual influence and enrichment of the cultures themselves occur, leading to the spiritual convergence of large cultural regions. To facilitate this, international events in the fields of culture, craftsmanship, and fashion are held in developed countries.
One of the most renowned fashion events is the international project “ASPARA FASHION WEEK.” This project was created by one of the world’s esteemed fashion designers, Aidarkhan Kaliev, in early 2017. Thanks to his efforts, Kazakhstan became the venue for international fashion shows featuring not only Kazakh and Central Asian designers but also specialists from around the world. ASPARA FASHION WEEK is the first official fashion week in the world that continued to operate during the two-year pandemic, functioning online.
From September 26 to 29, Taraz will host the XIVseason of ASPARA FASHION WEEK under the slogan “DIALOGUE OF CULTURES.” Over the past 13 seasons, ASPARA FASHION WEEK has gained popularity not only in Kazakhstan and Central Asia but also globally. ASPARA FASHION WEEK has established partnerships with more than 20 of the world’s largest fashion weeks. It proudly values its partnerships with SERBIA FASHION WEEK, MAD MOOD FASHION WEEK MILANO, AFWEU FASHION WEEKS, DIVERSITY FASHION WEEK, CZECHIA FASHION WEEK, ASEAN INTERNATIONAL FASHION WEEK, TENUN FASHION WEEK, EURASIA FASHION WEEK, FASHION WEEK BULGARIA, BRIDAL FASHION WEEK, GLORIA FASHION WEEK, STOCKHOLM INTERNATIONAL FASHION FAIR, ETHNOPODIUM RUSSIA, TAJIKISTAN FASHION WEEK, SILK ROAD FASHION LONDON, FASHION WEEK ISTANBUL, MARBELLA FASHION WEEK, TRANSYLVANIA FASHION FESTIVAL, FASHIONHALL-FASHION WEEK BERLIN.
In total, more than 700 designers from over 50 countries have participated in the 13 previous seasons. ASPARA FASHION WEEK has been featured in major fashion publications, including the American TV channel FNL Network, ELLE magazine, MERCURY’S, Gazzetta Italia, Fashion Collection, Business Emirates, DFashion magazine, ZOOM, ASPAN, Tengri, Gazzetta Tribune, FABUK, Pulse 2.0, Features, WorldFashionMediaNews, Dailymail24, Albidda, Akhbar1, Albraq, Yaf3press, Misr-Alan, Khabar Agency, Eurasia TVChannel, Telekanal CTC, 31 channel, KazakhTV channel, KAZINFORM, and many others. This media coverage has attracted millions of views on social networks and numerous visits by foreign and Kazakh fashion professionals.
The new season of ASPARA FASHION WEEK will continue to breathe new life into the dialogue of cultures, fostering connections between fashion and the cultures of different countries, nations, and continents. The goal of the XIV season is to create an atmosphere of national values and cultivate an understanding that one’s own ethnocultural coexistence is impossible without a respectful and careful attitude toward the values of other peoples.
Like previous seasons, the XIV season of ASPARA FASHION WEEK continues to celebrate the ancient city of Taraz, revive national spirit, patriotism, dignity, and promote traditions and culture. Let’s highlight some of the standout moments from the programs of previous seasons:
-“QAZAQANALARY” project: 12 designers from different regions of the republic participated in its creation, tasked with creating the image of the Kazakh woman as a mother and guardian of the hearth. These designers’ outfits were modeled by members of the Center for Active Rest for Pensioners. The oldest model was born in 1947. Foreign fashion experts and show viewers were touched by the grace, nobility, and dignity of the Kazakh woman. Today, the demand for age-diverse models is growing both in Kazakhstan and worldwide. In the XIV season, five Kazakh designers will present their collections for five age groups of models from across Kazakhstan. Thanks to ASPARA FASHION WEEK, not only Kazakh designers but also age-diverse models now have the opportunity to participate in international runways.
– “QAZAQ MEN” project: A collection of men’s clothing in the neo-folk style was created to showcasethe masculinity, brutality, and national identity of the Great Steppe’s men.
– “Kazakh brides” project: A collection of women’s clothing in the neo-folk style created to demonstrate femininity, tenderness, wisdom, and the distinct national identity of the beauties of the Great Steppe.
Fashion week programs usually include free seminars on the International Trade Centre’s Ready4 Trade Central Asia project for entering the global market, the USAID Trade Promotion Service Providers project for promoting exports with grants for local manufacturers, master classes, showrooms, and discussions with fashion industry experts.
A highlight of the XIV season will be a fashion show dedicated to the memory of Alla Ilchun (the Pearl of Dior) – a Kazakh professional model. Fifteen leading Kazakh designers will present stylized outfits reminiscent of those that Dior’s muse, Alla, once dazzled international runways with.
The fourth day of the XIII season of ASPARA FASHION WEEK was dedicated to showcasing collections by student designers from the AsparaCollege of Fashion Art and Business. Over its 25 years, Aspara College has become a brand in the country’s education sector and is globally recognized in the fashion world as a platform for training fashion industry professionals, and as an innovator in education and production. Aspara College is known for its graduates who promote the culture and traditions of nomads in the global fashion arena. Young designers at the college gain an understanding of Kazakhstan’s fashion industry development and learn the art of international cooperation in the fashion world, elevating the status of clothing and traditional crafts professions.
Taraz, once known as the “city of merchants” and standing at the crossroads of great trade routes, civilizations, and cultures, is one of Kazakhstan’s oldest cities, with a 2,000-year history. While many ancient cities were lost to the sands of time, Taraz, repeatedly rising from its ashes, continues to amaze with its applied art. Today, the fashion industry is thriving in Taraz, where young designers create innovative works by exploring national trends.
Since October 2022, Taraz has become the first and only city in Kazakhstan to join the World Crafts Cities Network, ranked 56th for its woolen and felt crafts, and is set to become a center for tourism in Kazakhstan in the near future. This remarkable event provides new momentum for the region’s cultural, spiritual, and tourism development. Plans are underway to hold large-scale tourism development events in this ancient city, with support offered to artisans looking to work in this area. Currently, the region has 3,435 historical and cultural monuments, five of which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, with 25 of national importance and 698 of local significance
Cecilia Rod 