Georgia’s annual celebration of everything culture returned this May for its second edition. We share our top two designers to watch.
From 9-12 May, Georgia’s capital was fizzing with excitement as creatives from around the globe joined for the long-awaited return of Culture Week Tbilisi (CWT), an achemic mix of art, fashion, film, dance, theatre and music.
Since its inception, not only has the festival strived to foster a space for cultural exchange, it has also defined itself as a politically charged event that mirrors current affairs in its themes and actively rouses dialogue about them. The acclaimed inaugural edition in 2022 was dedicated to Ukraine’s liberation.
Owing to the political turmoil and riots that seized the country in 2023, the second iteration was put on ice until this year. Indicative of the recent unrest, “For Peace and Freedom” was chosen as the theme for CWT’s return.
Hosted at Factory Tbilisi, the four-day programme entailed quite the cultural banquet. All day long, visitors could indulge in fine art and photographic exhibitions, documentary screenings, catwalk shows, orchestral concerts and a special performance from the Georgian National Ballet.
The collective cry for change extended beyond the programme as young Georgians flocked outside the former Coca-Cola factory, posters in hand, protesting for peace and freedom.
From the myriad of talent we soaked up, two fashion shows left a lasting impression on us. Here are our top two designers to watch.
Berhasm
The Tbilisi-based fashion collective founded in 2018, evolved from Beso Turazashvil‘s hobby of making T-shirts for his friends.
A playful blend of the words ‘Berghain’ and ‘orgasm’, Berhasm presented its first official collection at Paris Fashion Week 2019. Since then, it has maintained momentum, releasing four collections per year.
The label has gone from strength to strength, offering a full range of womenswear, menswear, footwear and accessories, which it supplies to 30 countries worldwide via its online store.
In line with CWT24’s theme, the collective is grounded in the concept of freedom – a pursuit of expressionism and individuality.
Berhasm holds social issues close to its heart and endeavours to become better connected to local communities and the planet through its work with charities such as the Women’s Violence Prevention Fund, sustainable materials and ethical suppliers.
The featured FW24 collection, ‘Chaos and New Order’, adopts muted tones and 90s grunge style, packed in rugged knits, tailored denim and reworked leather pieces.
Akà Prodiàshvili
Now in his late twenties, the Georgian star designer Akà Prodiàshvili first captivated international audiences six years ago with his extravagant drag-inspired collections.
Lady of leisure parasols, long evening gloves, peacock feather dresses and Dalmatian print designs earned him applause from Vogue as the master of Cruella-de-Ville chic.
Prodiàshvili’s fearlessly camp looks might also explain how he managed to charm queer icons Lady Gaga and Arca.
In recent years, his collections have become much easier to wear but some things never change – Prodiàshvili is still not a fan of the whole “less is more” thing.
The featured collection METHOD 25 was exemplary of this – chainmail skirts, appliquéd floral bras, sheer ruffled fabrics and masquerade masks were all on the agenda.
As a member of the LGBTQ+ community growing up in Eastern Europe, Prodiàshvili has spoken openly about his adverse and painful experiences, which he continues to channel into his work.
Whilst Tbilisi’s queer scene may be flourishing more than ever before, the community still faces a considerable amount of challenges and resistance.
Prodiàshvili’s fashion show confronted the audience with such issues, making a valiant call for new realities – a true manifestation of this year’s theme.
Credits
EDITOR
Lucy Rowan
photographY
Liza Prykhodko
