Down the Kazakh-walk: The Nation of Glorious ... Fashion?

These days, it is nearly impossible to speak of Kazakhstan without mentioning its buzzing fictional reporter, Borat. Then again, before these days, a conversation about Kazakhstan would be unheard of, much less a mention about Kazakhstani fashion.

Almaty, Kazakhstan just recently hosted a successful three-day fashion week, a caliber under Bryant Park, but certainly not lacking any oooh’s or ahhhh’s. On Nov. 9th, designers and media from around the world flocked to negotiate the unseemly connection between “Kazakhstan” and “fashion.” Despite Borat’s imagery of a simple, broken, and immoral country in his box-office toppling film, Kazakhstan fits in with any other country. Much of the country lives in poverty, yet a booming percentage inhabit the progressive “Paris-like” fashion districts. Fine dining, fine clothes, fine jewelry, and fine people crowd the streets, busy with daily affairs. Though many Kazakhstanis are vexed with Borat’s one-sided depiction of their country, more are simply humored with the comedian, knowing that the film will bring awareness to an otherwise invisible nation. Even the president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, shrugs off the satirical Borat blockbuster, stating that “any publicity is good publicity.”

Apart from Borat’s star-stealing buzz, Kazakhstan’s fashion unveils an economy only bound to rise. High-class European brands are thriving off lavish aristocrats and wealthy tourists. Many Kazakhstani models and designers reside in the most exclusive multi-million dollar estates. Hotels mimic the nightlife of Las Vegas, sporting expensive healthclubs, casinos, and even a Luxor. The annual Kazakhstan Fashion Week guarantees tourist spending and helps boost economy. Kazakhstan’s gradual progress towards capitalism has proved linear with the countries economic growth. Two years ago, in order to jumpstart Kazakhstan’s now full-fledged fashion week, the government expended a vast amount to import foreign designers. This year, the excitement revolves around domestic fashion, cheered on by Kazakhstani enthusiasts.

Though Borat’s limelight shone on Kazakhstan portrayed a misrepresentation of the collective, his influence cannot be denied, especially for the fashion industry. His publicity of the country could not have come at a better time, hyping up media coverage on the country supposedly composed of mustached-men and gawky housewives. However, those who attended Fashion Week saw the polar opposite of Borat’s depiction. Central Asian beauties flurried the stage, decorated with the most elaborate accessories and, let’s just say, a “different” style. What is interesting is that not only does Kazakhstan’s Fashion Week differ in atmosphere from Bryant Park’s, but, the models also prove to be more voluptuous than Americans, who are currently supporting the “thin” obsession.

As fashion continues to gain popularity across the world, gathering Americans around the TV screen to watch “America’s Top Model” or “Project Runway”, Kazakhstan will be expecting more interest in their annual fashion week. Perhaps as the “real” country is manifested, fashion and Kazakhstan will not be such unrelated concepts. Perhaps Borat’s idea of “Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan” is not so ridiculous after all.