It was 9pm on Thursday, and the line to enter Spring Studios for the Afffair fashion show was still around the block. As the finale show of the day, it was inevitable to have delays caused by the previous shows. However, attendees remained excited to see the spring/summer collection of the label by Azerbaijani designer Rufat Ismayil.
Rufat, who used to be a model for Paco Rabanne and Valentine Yudashkin, launched his own label in Istanbul, which soon attracted some of the celebrity clientele such as Beyoncé and Lil Kim. This year marks his second year presenting his works at New York Fashion Week (NYFW), and he was also the first designer from Azerbaijan to hit the stage at NYFW last year.
The collection for the Spring/Summer 2020 runway show is called ‘Afffair Khari Bulbul Flower’, which includes 30 looks with primarily evening/cocktail dresses. Khari-bulbul flower is symbol of Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region, perfectly setting the theme for the show – an international modern couture collection with exotic accents.
The label used Turkish fabrics such as chiffon and silk, semi-precious stones and Swarovski stones handcrafted with Turkish craftsmanship, sophisticated tassels and embellished openwork nets, as well as bold and modern cutouts to create feminine, luxurious and confident looks that showcase the glamour and elegance of contemporary women. Models were wearing Khari-bulbul flower hair accessories in tasteful colors such as lilac, pink, purple, orange, white corresponding to the colors of their dresses and theme of the collection.
DJs mixed contemporary runway beats with sounds of traditional Turkish-Azeri string instruments such as oud, qanun and tar, together with melodies from Aygün Kazımova, an Azeri singer, creating the chic atmosphere with a touch of Mid-eastern vibe.
The talented designer showed up in the end with head model Ayşe Hatun Önal in purple gown and enjoyed the cheering of the fashionable crowds.
Glamorous Journey 
Great show – wish I had been there!
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