Between protesting against a controversial ‘Russian Law’, the rising Georgian generation was out in force at Tbilisi Culture Week proving clothing can still be political
It feels like the youth of Tbilisi are always fighting for something. In 2018, the community fought back against the violent anti-LGBTQ+ raids that exploded through underground techno club Bassiani by taking to the streets and literally raving for freedom, the streets outside the city’s hall filled with the reverberating thrum of back-to-back DJs and the air filled with red smoke and chants of “We dance together, we fight together”.
Then, in 2020, Tbilisi’s queer kids and their allies remained defiant in the face of violence as they coordinated the first ever Georgian Pride march, and would not back down as they faced hostility from bigoted mobs – though the police shut down the official parade, a group came together to take part in a guerilla walk in which they waved rainbow flags and made it clear they would never be chased into the shadows.
Through it all have been protests against Russian occupation, with Georgia’s neighbour often threatening to once more invade and claim more of the region’s land of its own, and, most recently, a detrimental government bill dubbed the ‘Russian Law’, which will take Georgia further away from its ongoing fight to join the European Union. Out on Tbilisi’s streets once more, its youth are putting themselves in harm’s way to oppose it, with brutal attacks still being carried out by police after weeks of demonstrations.
Amid all this though, the rising youth are still committed to creativity, and using that creativity to make a stand for what they believe in. This month, Tbilisi Fashion Week returned after it was cancelled due to political unrest in the region back in November 2023. Rebranded as Tbilisi Culture Week, the event exploded beyond the parameters of a runway show, and showcased a vibrant line-up of talents spanning art, fashion, design, music, and more. Particularly poignant was Aka Prodiashvili’s latest collection, in which the designer celebrated the queer community and made a strong statement for where its head was at politically through a column dress dotted with the EU stars.
Another cause for celebration was the grand opening of George Keburia’s first ever store. As one of the first designers on Georgia’s current fashion landscape to go global with his success, Tbilisi Culture Week saw him throw open the doors to the Keburia flagship, its insides made up of cold, sleek metal finishes and retro-futuristic neon lights bearing his name, which sat in contrast to the cute, kitschy aesthetics of his punchy two-piece skirt suits and slinky dresses.
The nightly protests they were attending also didn’t affect attendees when it came to turning looks across the weekend – though some shielded their eyes behind sunglasses after being hit with teargas the night before. For them, dressing up and being their authentic selves in a country still rooted in conservatism is as much an act of protest as standing on the street chanting for justice is. A lot has been said recently about how fashion is too scared to be political, but while out-of-touch events like the Met Gala literally stand for nothing beyond beautiful gowns, you only need look to the streets – in both Tbilisi and beyond – to realise fashion is still a vital tool when it comes to standing up for what you believe in.
Click through the gallery above for a closer look at Guram Kapanadze’s photos from the weekend.