Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT127
2008-01-25 04:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN'S PROJECT RUNWAY: MINISTRY OF
how-toVZCZCXRO0763 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #0127 0250450 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 250450Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0138 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 3292 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1108 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0978 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 1547 RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2144
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000127
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, DRL, EEB
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON EIND ETRD SCUL SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S PROJECT RUNWAY: MINISTRY OF
TEXTILES AND CHINA TEAM UP ON A FASHION SHOW
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000127
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, DRL, EEB
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON EIND ETRD SCUL SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S PROJECT RUNWAY: MINISTRY OF
TEXTILES AND CHINA TEAM UP ON A FASHION SHOW
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) When one thinks of haute couture and super models,
one normally does not think of Central Asia. Nevertheless,
on January 18, Turkmenistan's Ministry of Textile Industry
and the Chinese Embassy teamed up on a fashion show that took
place on the top floor of the Altyn Asyr shopping center.
With the flashing lights, up-tempo music, and a smooth
impresario, one could almost close one's eyes and imagine you
were sitting along the runway in Milan or Paris. Almost.
3. (SBU) The two-part show featured local models from the
Ministry's modeling house wearing outfits made from silk,
taffeta, and velvet imported from China. The runway and
seating mirrored exactly what one would see elsewhere. The
Chinese collection, which came first, featured updated
versions of costumes from Chinese ethnic minorities (heavy
emphasis on Muslim minorities, like the Uighurs and the Hui,
only with midriff-baring tops, tight slacks and fanciful head
coverings). In addition, there were modern versions of the
traditional "chipao" dress for women, as well as flashy
Chinese jackets modeled by clearly embarrassed male models.
After an interlude in which costumed Turkmen male dancers
performed a traditional dance, the focus moved to
Turkmenistan-designed clothing. In the first of these
collections the Turkmen influences were especially strong,
but the links to home grew increasingly weak and the clothing
became increasingly cutting-edge as the models worked their
way through collection after collection. At the end, the
designer, Larisa Farafonova, came out to accept the applause
of the audience, which appeared to be made up primarily of
diplomats, Ministry of Textiles officials, and Turkmen elite.
Throughout the show, cameramen and photographers snapped and
recorded the proceedings, and an article on the event was
featured on the culture page of the January 23 edition of
"Neutralniyy Turkmenistan."
4. (SBU) While featuring the products on offer by the
Ministry of Textiles was one point of the show, the other
seemed to be to demonstrate the close cooperation between
Turkmenistan and China in this area. The wife of the Chinese
Ambassador opened the show, praising the people and culture
of Turkmenistan. She also sat next to the Minister, Jemal
Goklenova (a relative by marriage of President
Berdimuhamedov),throughout the show. At the end, the two
walked off arm-in-arm to the buffet of Chinese food.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: This fashion show was one more
demonstration that Turkmenistan is increasingly adopting the
elements of international culture. Turkmenistanis
celebrated with a vengeance this past New Years holiday,
complete with adorned trees, Grandfather Frost, and all the
trimmings, after years of the holiday being discouraged under
the former president, Niyazov. Berdimuhamedov has recently
announced that it is time to refurbish the State Circus and
old movie theaters, build a new world-class movie theater,
and make new opera productions. And it certainly seemed as
if whoever had produced the fashion show, which was
entertaining, had watched the fashion channel via satellite
very carefully and tried to recreate all the elements in
order to make it conform to international standards. END
COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, DRL, EEB
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON EIND ETRD SCUL SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S PROJECT RUNWAY: MINISTRY OF
TEXTILES AND CHINA TEAM UP ON A FASHION SHOW
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) When one thinks of haute couture and super models,
one normally does not think of Central Asia. Nevertheless,
on January 18, Turkmenistan's Ministry of Textile Industry
and the Chinese Embassy teamed up on a fashion show that took
place on the top floor of the Altyn Asyr shopping center.
With the flashing lights, up-tempo music, and a smooth
impresario, one could almost close one's eyes and imagine you
were sitting along the runway in Milan or Paris. Almost.
3. (SBU) The two-part show featured local models from the
Ministry's modeling house wearing outfits made from silk,
taffeta, and velvet imported from China. The runway and
seating mirrored exactly what one would see elsewhere. The
Chinese collection, which came first, featured updated
versions of costumes from Chinese ethnic minorities (heavy
emphasis on Muslim minorities, like the Uighurs and the Hui,
only with midriff-baring tops, tight slacks and fanciful head
coverings). In addition, there were modern versions of the
traditional "chipao" dress for women, as well as flashy
Chinese jackets modeled by clearly embarrassed male models.
After an interlude in which costumed Turkmen male dancers
performed a traditional dance, the focus moved to
Turkmenistan-designed clothing. In the first of these
collections the Turkmen influences were especially strong,
but the links to home grew increasingly weak and the clothing
became increasingly cutting-edge as the models worked their
way through collection after collection. At the end, the
designer, Larisa Farafonova, came out to accept the applause
of the audience, which appeared to be made up primarily of
diplomats, Ministry of Textiles officials, and Turkmen elite.
Throughout the show, cameramen and photographers snapped and
recorded the proceedings, and an article on the event was
featured on the culture page of the January 23 edition of
"Neutralniyy Turkmenistan."
4. (SBU) While featuring the products on offer by the
Ministry of Textiles was one point of the show, the other
seemed to be to demonstrate the close cooperation between
Turkmenistan and China in this area. The wife of the Chinese
Ambassador opened the show, praising the people and culture
of Turkmenistan. She also sat next to the Minister, Jemal
Goklenova (a relative by marriage of President
Berdimuhamedov),throughout the show. At the end, the two
walked off arm-in-arm to the buffet of Chinese food.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: This fashion show was one more
demonstration that Turkmenistan is increasingly adopting the
elements of international culture. Turkmenistanis
celebrated with a vengeance this past New Years holiday,
complete with adorned trees, Grandfather Frost, and all the
trimmings, after years of the holiday being discouraged under
the former president, Niyazov. Berdimuhamedov has recently
announced that it is time to refurbish the State Circus and
old movie theaters, build a new world-class movie theater,
and make new opera productions. And it certainly seemed as
if whoever had produced the fashion show, which was
entertaining, had watched the fashion channel via satellite
very carefully and tried to recreate all the elements in
order to make it conform to international standards. END
COMMENT.
HOAGLAND