The Fashion Time Magazine

When you think of the fashion capitals of the world, there’s Paris and London, Milan and Rome, New York and Los Angeles, and Tashkent and Samarkand.

What’s that you say somewhat incredulously, “Tashkent and Samarkand in the Central Asian nation of Uzbekistan?”

Why, yes indeed!

Uzbekistan rose out of the fashion dust, like a proud Asian Tiger ready to pounce on its glamorous prey, with the formation of Style.uz, hosted by Gulnara Karimova, a week long, annual, mega-cultural event that began in 2006, and reached new zeniths of popularity, this past October 12th to 17th, encompassing art, design, style, music, food, classes, parties and photography, catapulting the country to the center of the glam cosmos.

Style.Uz started off with a suave bang with legendary Spanish crooner Julio Iglesias performing at the Alisher Navoi State Academic Grand Theatre in Tashkent.  When Iglesias sang, To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before, a million hearts of Uzbek fashionistas swooned in unison. They were screaming out, “We like being on top of the fashion world and we want more.”

Julio Iglesias

And more they got!

There was the strong throng of acclaimed international guests like Chopard’s vice president Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele and designers including Takada Kenzo, Denis Simachev, Helen Yarmak, Suneet Varma, Alena Akhmadullina, and Julia Dalakyan, who graced the proceedings. There were fashion shows by Wolford, Sisi Wasabi, DSQUARED2, Revillon and Guy Laroche and presentations by Chopard and Guli jewelry. Uzbekistan’s indigenous designers laid claim to a bright fashion future with an intriguing array of competitive styles that enveloped the masses in a happy afterglow. Renown European artist Michael Fuchs showcased his works, and representatives of the media from Russia, China, UK, France, Germany, Italy, India, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Japan, and Austria among others were all there profiling the bright lights of Uzbekistan style.

Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele

Finally, Rod “Do ya think I’m Sexy” Stewart, closed off the festivities with an electric, hip-swaying, heart-charging, foot-stomping concert in Samarkand’s Registan square that left the jubilant participants panting for more.

Rod Stewart preforming on the Registan stage

And it was all chronicled by Fashion photographer Andre Rau, a stylish giant in his field, who captured the pageantry and glory of the magical journey of fabulosity amongst the ancient metropolises of the Great Silk Road.

Takada Kenzo, Andre Rau, Gulnara Karimova

With Style. uz, Uzbekistan put the world on notice that it intends to be a power player on the International Fashion Scene for years to come.