By Erin Levi
The Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan recently transformed into a catwalk, showcasing some of its top designers as part of Global Fashion Week—an initiative founded by Dilnoza Umirzakova, to support young designers in Uzbekistan.
Among them was one of my personal favorites, Moel Bosh. Popular at «alternative» fashion weeks, like Tashkent, Tblisi, Kazakhstan, Riga, and Moscow, the ready-to-wear brand was excited to be invited to the US, and the event was a resounding success.
«Our show in Washington as part of GFW left no one indifferent. We witnessed so many positive emotions from the guests, their interest, and admiration! It was a grand event! We express our gratitude to the Embassy of Uzbekistan and personally to Ambassador Furkat Sidikov for their support in organizing and conducting the fashion show in the historical building of the embassy. We also thank all the guests who responded o our invitation!» Moel Bosh posted on Instagram to its 29.9K followers about its April 4th DC show—marking its US debut.
The mother-and-daughters-run company continued onto New York City, where for two days only (April 5-6), they convened privately with buyers, before flying back to Europe for Riga Fashion Week.
Instagram is, in fact, how I learned of Moel Bosh. It took some time before I finally was able to see the brand in person. My first chance was on my 2021 trip to Tashkent for the Central & South Asia high-level geopolitical forum, and then in 2023, I purchased a stunning green ikat dress—very spring—for my 40th birthday, which I celebrated in Samarkand’s Eternal City. I wore it again this past weekend and received compliments from a fellow commuter as I stepped off the Metro North train at Grand Central. «I love your skirt —oh wait, it’s a dress!» said the woman.
Indeed. How I wish I could shout back, «You can buy one, too.»
Founded in 2012 by Zuhra Inat and her daughters Diyora, Dodo and Guzal, Moel Bosh has boutiques in Tashkent, Samarkand’s Eternal City, and Riga, Latvia. They describe their style as «handmade designer clothing using Ikat in modern cuts. Every piece is created with much love and attention,» with fabrics and embroideries designed by Zuhra, a big fan of natural fabrics like silk and cotton.