Drawing inspiration from the rich legacy of Turkish carpets and Anatolian kilims, Belma Özdemir’s “Echoing Surfaces” collection emerged as one of the standout moments of the fashion week’s opening.
Antalya Fashion Week (AFW), the event that has positioned Antalya as an international meeting point for fashion on the global stage, has opened its doors for the ninth time. The fashion week, which will continue until June 4, began with Belma Özdemir’s runway show held the previous day at Hotel Su. Presented in an open-air setting inspired by the Yörük culture, the collection titled “Echoing Surfaces” featured designs created from carpets and kilims woven with Anatolia’s rich traditional motifs. Özdemir’s original collection, inspired by Turkish carpets, attracted significant attention from attendees. The opening show, attended by Antalya Governor Hulusi Şahin, received enthusiastic applause from guests, including numerous fashion professionals from abroad.
The first day of the fashion week, organized under the main sponsorship of Arso Group, continued with a runway show by Gökhan Yavaş, attended by a distinguished audience. The fashion designer’s Autumn/Winter 2026–2027 collection, titled “Armored Silence,” featuring both menswear and womenswear designs, was met with great acclaim. Renowned Kazakh model Zhengisbek Lashin appeared on the runway as the lead model. The collection, inspired by the layered serenity of South Korea’s Naejangsan Mountain, featured 21 menswear and 6 womenswear looks, drawing attention with its distinctive and sophisticated designs.
AFW’s opening day, which created a true fashion storm in Antalya, also hosted a runway show by Russian designer Kristina Kibovskaya. Arriving in Antalya with a large team and group of models, Kibovskaya captivated guests with her latest collection. Appearing on the AFW runway for the fourth time, the designer showcased her new-season creations through both adult and child models.
Another highlight of the day was the presentation by Kazakhstan’s Chinara Yelmuratovna, who introduced her latest collection to guests. Continuing to make a name for herself in the fashion world with her innovative approach to children’s and adult fashion and her elegant designs, Yelmuratovna earned widespread admiration from attendees.
The first day of the fashion week, organized by Emy Organization and featuring a series of colorful runway presentations, concluded with the show of Murat Aytulum. Known for his passion for leather and meticulous attention to detail, Aytulum unveiled his Autumn/Winter 2026–2027 collection, “Others,” which stood out for its exceptional craftsmanship. Leather, a signature element of the designer’s work, formed the backbone of the OTHERS collection. Strong outerwear pieces, corset structures, and sharp tailoring reinforced the collection’s confident character. The runway presentation, held as part of Antalya Fashion Week, provided the stage for one of the designer’s most powerful fashion narratives.
AFW, which continues until June 4, will also feature runway shows by Tuğçe Özkurt, Cihan Nacar, SNIM (Dubai), Big Brooch (Russia), and Alla Zhelaretti (Russia), ensuring that the fashion momentum in Antalya continues without slowing down.
