“I strongly encourage everyone to relentlessly pursue their dreams, to embrace continuous learning, and to boldly experiment without fear.”
Words by Tatiana Summers. Portrait by Michael Karnushkin.
In a society too often accustomed to the notion of giving up and surrendering one’s hopes and dreams to the pressures of practicality and profitability, Bauyrzhan Shadibekov’s journey serves as a powerful testament to the value of the pursuit of dreams. For Shadibekov, who is the General Director of Visa Fashion Week Almaty and Visa Fashion Week Tashkent and Co-founder of the Fashion Bureau by Saken Zhaxybayev, working in fashion was once a dream and is now a reality.
Growing up in Shymkent, Qazaqstan before moving to Almaty to begin his fashion career, Shadibekov recalls how important the early encouragement from his family was towards his dream to work within the fashion industry. “My journey in the fashion industry was greatly encouraged by my parents, who advised me to pursue my dreams and transform them into tangible goals.”
For Shadibekov, it was a combination of hard work and determination that shaped his career. Since entering the Qazaqstani fashion industry in 2011, he has worked for Saken Zhaxybayev’s Fashion Bureau, overseeing seasons across luxury brands from BULGARI to Dior. However, it was not until 2020 that he began to make his voice heard in shaping the future of the Qazaqstani fashion industry. “I took a significant step by organizing Visa Fashion Week Almaty, a major fashion event in Qazaqstan. Initially, it was challenging to attract foreign guests and media, but after hosting successful events at the Almaty Theatre and The Ritz Carlton Almaty, we started seeing more international media and photographers interested in our fashion week, showing the growth and influence of our event.”
A fashion market full of potential yet often overlooked, Shadibekov hopes to nurture and inspire local Qazaqstani talent, forging a future that sees the transformation of, “Central Asia into a distinguished fashion hub.” Alongside his founding of Visa Fashion Week Almaty and Visa Fashion Week Tashkent, he developed the VFWA Next Designer Award Empowered by Visa in Qazaqstan and the same award in Uzbekistan, dedicated to empowering young designers by providing them with a platform to showcase their creativity and innovation, something that Shadibekov considers as a pivotal moment in not only his career but the future of fashion in Central Asia. An initiative now in its eighth season, the NDA has received over 80 exceptional applications; a testament to the ambitious spirit of his homeland.
Having successfully founded both Visa Fashion Week Almaty and Visa Fashion Week Tashkent, Shadibekov’s projects are a mark of his commitment to his country and his conviction that it belongs on the global fashion stage. “The main message of our Visa Fashion Week projects is simple yet multifaceted. It revolves around national designers interpreting their country’s culture into personal creations. The recreation of past traditions and creativity, conveying a unique identity while aligning with the latest avant-garde trends, is a form of high art.”
Despite his achievements, Shadibkhov’s aspirations remain steadfast, stretching beyond Qazaqstan’s borders and throughout Central Asia, in order to find flourishing fashion designers and foster new horizons far and wide. “We are engaging global media and creating a vibrant street-style scene [and] enhancing our international footprint. Witnessing the tangible results of our endeavours and realizing the positive impact of our work is profoundly satisfying. It confirms that we are not only on the right path but also passionately dedicated to what we do.”
As he continues to propel the Qazaqstani fashion market onto the international stage, Bauyrzhan Shadibkov is proud to be able to bestow the same encouragement and support he received from his parents onto the young designers of this generation. “I strongly encourage everyone to relentlessly pursue their dreams, to embrace continuous learning and to boldly experiment without fear. This approach not only fosters personal growth but also fuels innovation in the dynamic world of fashion.”
Discover this piece inside the Central Asia Chapter at The Silk Road Issue 12
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