Icherisheher has turned into a showcase of Azerbaijan's rich clothing traditions as Baku hosted a broad cultural programme marking National Costume Day, bringing together historical garments, contemporary collections, traditional crafts, music, dance and academic discussions. The programme covered several venues in the historic centre, including the Baku House of Photography, Gosha Gala Square and the Shirvanshahs' Palace Complex. Throughout the day, visitors were able to explore different periods of Azerbaijani clothing culture, regional characteristics and contemporary approaches to national dress.
The programme began at the Baku House of Photography with a scientific-practical seminar devoted to the history and development of Azerbaijani clothing. Speakers discussed the influence of the Safavid heritage, the formation of national dress and its ethnographic characteristics. Presentations by Gunay Chapay, Aytan Asadova and Gunel Rahimli examined different historical and academic aspects of Azerbaijani national costume.
The seminar programme was followed by the presentation of the exhibition "People of a Century." Gosha Gala Square hosted a large exhibition of Azerbaijani national costumes. Among the displays were historical garments used in the film "Taghiyev", as well as a collection illustrating the clothing traditions of the historical period depicted in the film. National dances, ethnic costume and music presentations were also held at the square, while residents of Icherisheher took part in a presentation of national dress.
The programme also gave contemporary Azerbaijani designers an opportunity to present their work. Collections by Mehriban Khalilzade, Nargiz Surkhayeva and Gunay Hasanli were shown during the event. Visitors could also watch the traditional production process of kelaghayi and attend the "Araxchin in My Hands" master class.
Students of the Azerbaijan State Children's Philharmonic performed national dances as part of the programme. The evening events moved to the Shirvanshahs' Palace Complex, where a ceremonial procession and opening programme were followed by a performance by a folklore ensemble, national dances and a series of costume presentations. Designer Gulnara Khalilova, known for her work promoting Azerbaijani national dress, presented her collection, while Gulzada Abdulova presented her "From the Past to the Present" collection.
The programme also looked beyond Azerbaijan, with representatives of foreign countries presenting traditional costumes and dances from different parts of the world. The event concluded with the multimedia performance "The Breath of Baku." Azerbaijani national costume has developed over centuries and reflects the country's history, geography, social structure and artistic traditions. Official cultural sources note that archaeological finds, including bronze needles and awls dating to the Early Bronze Age, indicate that people living in the territory of present-day Azerbaijan were making clothing thousands of years ago.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
