The eighth season of AFW-2025 turned sunny Antalya – one of Turkey’s most popular tourist destinations – into an open-air runway and a cultural manifesto. Modernity and history merged together under the steps of the models, from the snow-white minimalist Hotel Su to the ancient Hadrian’s Gate. Five intense days of fashion and culture showcased the work of designers from Turkey, Kazakhstan, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
The collections of local designers Çiğdem Akın, Murat Aytulum, Recep Demiray, Gökhan Yavaş, and Tuba Ergin — who proudly represent Türkiye on the international stage — alongside global participants such as Kristina Kibovskaya and Snim, set a high standard for Antalya as a unique fashion destination and became one of the most striking highlights of the week.
Fashion week was opened by Çiğdem Akın with her Nemesis collection, which embodied graceful yet unyielding justice on the runway.The day concluded with a spectacular show by Murat Aytulum titled Moon Light. The purity of the black-and-white palette, masterful tailoring, and sculptural silhouettes transformed the show into a true manifesto of elegant power. The day concluded with a spectacular show by Murat Aytulum titled Moon Light. The purity of the black-and-white palette, masterful tailoring, and sculptural silhouettes transformed the show into a true manifesto of elegant power. The second day of Antalya Fashion Week was marked by an elegant presentation from Kazakh designer Chinara Yelmuratovna, whose collection combined a refined approach to both adult and children's fashion, winning the audience over with its freshness and sophistication. The audience especially applauded the young models, who demonstrated true professionalism on the runway.Closing the second day of AFW, designer Recep Demiray presented a collection titled Ahde Vefa, which translates into Russian as “loyalty to a promise,” inspired by the city of Diyarbakir. Contemporary silhouettes intertwined with traditional Anatolian motifs, and fabrics with distinctive textures referenced architectural symbols of the region – the Four-Pillar Minaret, the Zerzevan Fortress, and the Ten-Arched Bridge. This collection became a vibrant fashion declaration of love for cultural heritage. The third day of Antalya Fashion Week began with a morning yoga session in the tranquil atmosphere of Casa Sur. Forty participants, guided by Ece Begüm Yücetan and Hilal Tataroğlu, practiced breathing techniques and inner harmony with Rebuwo. Afterwards, master classes and lectures on sustainable fashion curated by Dr. Ebru Dikmen Varol: from mindful wardrobes to fashion therapy.On the fourth day, the historic Ruin Adalia hotel was transformed into a fashion stage: a runway made of traditional Döşemealtı carpets served as the backdrop for Gökhan Yavaş’s show. His new collection, Holiday Heirlooms, in the spirit of art street style, included 31 looks, including a capsule line inspired by Arso Group projects. Thanks to collaboration with the London platform Fashion Scout, British designer John Herrera took to the AFW runway for the first time, one of the prominent representatives of London Fashion Week. In his designs, he combined traditional tailoring with innovative materials, delighting the audience.The grand finale of Antalya Fashion Week 2025 made history: for the first time, a fashion show was held at the ancient Roman Hadrian’s Gate, right in the heart of the old city. Under the accompaniment of rain and hundreds of camera flashes, Tuba Ergin presented her collection, Gilded Symphony – a refined and daring ode to haute couture.Photos courtesy of the AFW press service.
