Kazakh Traditional Costumes: A Display in Washington
Kazakh Designer’s Costumes Showcased at Fashion Exhibition in Washington
Kazakh designer Bakonya Bagdat Mailybayeva’s stunning costumes were featured at the Fashioning Power, Fashioning Peace exhibition at the historic House Museum of American President Woodrow Wilson in Washington on May 6, as reported by Kazinform news agency.
Mailybayeva presented a women’s costume that beautifully combined traditional elements with a modern artistic flair. The ensemble included a silk suit adorned with a velvet-covered pin, a lining with decorative elements, and a belt embellished with beads. Through her artistry, Mailybayeva aimed to showcase the cultural heritage and unity of the Kazakh nation.
The exhibition showcased garments by international designers representing over 30 countries, including Azerbaijan, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Estonia, France, Indonesia, Mexico, and many others. The displayed outfits ranged from diplomatic costumes and military uniforms to traditional clothing and high fashion, all symbolizing strength, diplomacy, and cultural heritage in line with the exhibition’s theme of power and peace.
Elizabeth Kartcher, the executive director of the House of President Woodrow Wilson, expressed that this was the first annual exhibition of its kind. Embassies in Washington were invited to share clothes that represented the formation of power and peace for their countries.
Woodrow and Edith Wilson, the former president and first lady of the United States, were known for taking clothing seriously as a way to project power on the world stage. The exhibition also highlighted Edith Wilson’s iconic sense of style.
Kartcher remarked that Washington, being the center of power and decision-makers, was the perfect location for showcasing how people from around the world choose to present themselves in representing power or influence. The House Museum of Woodrow Wilson, a protected historical monument, provided a fitting backdrop for this exploration of diplomatic fashion and cultural expression.
