The 9th Italian Design Day was successfully held in Tashkent, organised by the Italian Embassy with the support of Italian Trade Agency (ITA), which provided funding, in partnership with the Tashkent Textile University and the Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce.
The event welcomed over 300 guests and was broadcast live for an extended period on Uzbekistan’s national television network.
Among the attendees, welcomed by Ambassador Papadia de Bottini, were students from the Faculties of Architecture and Design and Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Turin’s Tashkent campus, as well as students from the University of Pisa and other Uzbek universities engaged in academic collaborations with Italy.
The event also attracted a high-profile institutional and cultural audience, including prominent figures from Uzbekistan’s cultural and entertainment sectors, ambassadors, and other accredited diplomats.
The 2025 edition of Italian Design Day in Uzbekistan aligned with the theme “Inequalities. Design for a Better Life”, closely linked to the upcoming Milan Triennale Universal Exhibition (May–November 2025), dedicated to “Inequalities. How to Mend the Fractures of Humanity”.
One of the most significant highlights of the event was a fashion show featuring garments produced by the Italian company Beltepà, made from handcrafted fabrics woven by Uzbek women from marginalised areas of the country. This initiative emphasised the role of women entrepreneurship in Uzbekistan’s traditional silk and textile sector, where ancient weaving techniques have been passed down for generations.
Thanks to the collaboration with young Italian designers, these locally produced fabrics are transformed in Italy into high-fashion creations. The project was met with great enthusiasm, as it represents a successful model of cooperation between local craftsmanship and design, generating opportunities for young talents and economic independence for women in smaller Uzbek communities. Additionally, a joint fashion show featuring Beltepà and young designers from the Textile Academy took place.
Architect Saverio Isola delivered a presentation on Italian design in museum architecture, with a focus on the Bukhara Restoration Centre, developed with ITA funding to support the preservation and enhancement of Uzbekistan’s artistic heritage.
