Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, July 25 (BNA): On the shore of one of the world’s deepest lakes, high in the Tian Shan Mountains in Kyrgyzstan, models dressed in a mixture of ancient and modern appeared at the International Bedouin Fashion Festival.
The event, now entering its third year, has drawn designers and fashion industry personalities from around 20 countries to the shimmering Issyk Kul Lake to enjoy fashion based on the thousands-year-old nomadic culture of Kyrgyzstan.
The stiletto-heeled shoes worn by some mannequins would not be appropriate for nomads, but some elaborate headdresses that seemed to mimic cattle horns were worn in traditional Bedouin dress. Huge swirl skirts appeared in many fashions, either elaborately patterned or in blocks of bright color.
Besides the costume design, the show gave visitors the chance to view a collection of tents – tents with wooden frames in leather or the hallmarks of nomads – and brightly colored carpets.