Visa Fashion Week Almaty 2025

Referred to as the most fashionable event in Central Asia, and rightfully so, the Visa Fashion Week Almaty VFWA, now in its sixth year of activities, keeps expanding and growing not only in reach and influence but also in compromise, responsibility and meaningful impact on the fashion industry, not only of the country but of the region. Going back to its traditional venue, the Ritz Carlton Almaty, the runway hosted eighteen collections by designers from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Armenia and Georgia, blending established names with promising newcomers that share the mindset and compromise toward fashion as a powerful force that goes far beyond clothing. "Today, VFWA is more than shows or stylish clothes on models and guests. It is a cultural language, a dialogue with the world, and a tool for shaping a new image of the country." says Bauyrzhan Shadibekov, CEO and producer of the event.

We saw how last season the Next Designer Award empowered by Visa gave us some of the most memorable moments on the runway, and the consistency of the new and previous winners continuing to be some of the most interesting showcases this time again proves how the encouragement and support of young talent always have great results and how giving a platform to their voices inspires others to share their stories as well. Winner of the latest 2025 edition Dmitry Khalitov and Maria Nesterova with their brand FourNest debuted on the runways alongside finalists Kasya and Zhasmin Akopyan, while last year's winners and finalists like Kimmin and Mariko presented their new collections. Here we share with you our favourite proposals of the season.

One of VFWA's main purposes has always been to unite the region, to lend their platform to voices not only from their country but to their neighbours as well, and to make this a multicultural event that becomes richer thanks to its openness. The more, the merrier. Thanks to this international approach, we could witness one of the best collections of the season, the one conceived by the Armenian creator Manuk Aleksanyan. As usual with countries as proud of their origin and culture as the ones in the Caucasus region, the starting point and main protagonist were the Armenian alphabet, a visual narrative as literal as it was nuanced.

The more evident pieces of jewellery, brooches and details representing the different letters of the alphabet were the centrepiece in a canvas that was perfectly executed from beginning to end. With an interesting combination of materials — where the more luxurious in appearance, in dazzling silver and gold, coexisted with the more relaxed cottons from graphic t-shirts — and a highly technical approach where careful and complex pleats shared space with strategic manipulations that made the fabrics look deteriorated or even old, Aleksanyan found the perfect middle point between tradition and edge. These pleated dresses we just mentioned are one of the highlights of the season, not only in the way the shiny fabrics are manipulated with immense precision but also in the constructions of the pieces, where it's very hard to decipher how the patterns are thought out and where the pieces begin and end. A nice introduction to the Armenian craft that leaves us curious to see more.

The Next Designer Award is one of the main focuses and attractions of this fashion week, where the initiative to support young talent created by Bauyrzhan Shadibekov finds a stage to show the world what they are made of. One of the winners of the most recent edition is the brand FourNest, and during their Visa Fashion Week debut, they proved why they had everything to win and to keep doing it. With an avant-garde approach that makes them stand out from the more traditional collections, their incorporation of critical concepts and ability to translate them into garments and tangible pieces is a reflection of how the younger generations are using creativity to express and call out their discomfort and worry towards the current state of the world.

Using the four elements — water, fire, earth and air — to explore the never-ending ecological tragedies that the planet is currently facing, sometimes with ethereal garments, others with straight-up prints of fires and natural disasters, their theatrical but also straightforward creations reflect these issues, tapping into both the emotions and the crudeness of images that are happening in front of us that we sometimes refuse to see. From pompous but sombre skirts and gowns, passing by interesting fabrics with a special shine that, depending on the shade and colour, could look like water, clouds or even oil, to the most sleek and sober tailored pieces, every look was part of the same dark but very real story. "This collection is not just about fashion; it is about responsibility. It speaks of a future that can still be saved," they say, and as worrying as the current situation is, it's nice to know we can trust the youth to change the course of our planet.

Debuting on the runways with a strong and cohesive visual and conceptual image that makes them seem like usuals of this sort of stage, the Kazakh brand Anima has a deep and introspective concept and fully lives up to the expectations. When it comes to matters like this, where brands attempt to express or portray a deeper connection and ideals that go far beyond the mere act of dressing up, sometimes the practice doesn't match the theory, or it results in a rather performative attempt to match the philosophical written words, but, as they say, "through clothing, movement and light tell the story of an inner journey", and so it shows in every single garment they presented. The brand found its starting point in the creation of kimonos made with light natural fabrics, and they shaped what was going to be their future ethos: pieces that reflect and evoke tranquillity, freedom and simplicity.

We had the chance to visit their equally peaceful showroom, and we could witness firsthand how their ways are not just exclusive to the runway; the space and those who work on it are great ambassadors of their philosophy. In there we could see how for them the act of dressing is a ceremony itself, taking every step, every layer and every twist and turn of the fabrics seriously but calmly. A single piece, depending on the way it's styled or layered, can create multiple new outfits, and without unnecessary ornaments, the simplicity but versatility of the garments shines, alongside the quality of their materials, fabrics and their construction. With an inherent cultural weight and a language that is soft but meaningful, the timeless, trendless and genderless designs find a place to shine no matter when or where.

We liked Kimmin last season, and we liked Kimmin this season. One of the brands we discovered last year when it just debuted on the runways as the winner of the NDA 2024, Kimmin once again honours and reimagines her culture and roots with a new collection that uses a modern language to tell the stories and legacy of the past. Made in Kazakhstan narrates how her deeply rooted identity drives everything from her creative expression to the path followed in life. We could feel how her vision was already strong and cohesive with her first collection, and this second part does nothing but enhance it even more.

With her already recognisable dark and almost grunge approach to silhouettes close to the streetwear realm but that still keeps certain glamour and luxury with lace and velvet fabrics or shiny and gold details, tracksuits, jeans and hoodies are elevated. The ornaments and details on each piece are not mere decorations; the symbols are a reflection of Kazakh culture, reinterpreting traditional codes to appeal to the newer generations, a necessary practice to help the culture to prevail, to keep it alive and to make it evolve at the same time as we do. Despite its short history as a brand, we could already feel and see how it has quickly become one of the audience's favourites; no wonder why.

Mariko 

Mariko completes the trifecta of brands that started their journey in the NDA award and that are now in our favourite proposals of the season. Also part of last year's awards, just like Kimmin, it was not only one of the most expected shows but also one of the brands we could see the most in the assistants to the fashion week, who were often seen in total looks, not only wearing but embodying them. Blending Kazakh and Armenian culture through a symbol that reflects the power of both countries, the horse, the importance of care for the environment and nature and the preservation of culture and heritage found its way into Mariko's designs.

A colour palette that's accordingly kept on the earth tones and raw and natural fabrics helps bring this idea of heritage and connection to the roots together. The figure of the horse takes the spotlight mainly in the accessories, with multiple bags that resemble decorative objects, like toys or even small sculptures. The collection is consistent, but our favourite moments are without doubt the wide balloon pants that are reminiscent in shape of the tobi pants worn by Japanese construction workers and the knitwear in general, with multiple pieces in diverse styles, from the more fitted dresses to loose sweaters that, thanks to the delicate technique, appear see-through even when they are not. Founded in 2023 and with already multiple prizes on her back, Mariko is one of the fashion promises of the region.

It wouldn't be a Visa Fashion Week without Zhsaken closing it with a bang. As always, the most awaited show of the season and one everyone is sure won't be just a fashion show but an experience. For this season we travelled to Japan through the garments, the music, the ambiance and the whole spectacle. Inspired by a life-changing trip to the Asian country and in collaboration with the also Kazakh brand Akmaral, each garment is a love letter to the traditions, the culture, the handcraft and the sceneries of East Asia. The show started with a captivating dance performance. Contrary to the last season, where the build-up slowly led to the grand finale, this time Zhsaken chose the beginning to be spectacular to capture all the attention and guide it to a romantic and soft closure, lingering in everyone's minds.

Through careful and rich details of hand embroidery, custom prints, feathers, florals, headpieces and more elements like the woodblock prints, the landscapes and the traditional garments like the kimonos or the obis, the collection was full of symbolism, a display of appreciation for the culture. The quality of the fabrics and process was made evident, and the women's and men's pieces — equally interchangeable thanks to their flowy and overall unisex-like silhouettes — complement and fit the body naturally. The more extra looks are suitable for the spectacle and for a show like this, but many of the proposals, more down-to-earth and relaxed, would work perfectly in a day-to-day setting, giving a stylish nod to their inspiration without falling into the costume-y. A perfect end to one of the fashion weeks where culture, traditions and heritage are valued and appreciated the most.