Investing in Central Asia’s New Silk Road | BoF CROSSROADS 2025

It’s no exaggeration to call Central Asia — a region spanning the five ‘stans’ of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan— fashion’s blind spot. But the region holds huge opportunities for the industry, said Almaty-based Aika Alemi, a business coach, educator, designer and director of Central Asia Creative Incubator. Alemi set out to dispel myths about the region including notions that its markets are either too small, isolated or complex, citing international investment in major retail and manufacturing projects from Tashkent to Astana. “It’s very difficult to be the blind spot on the map,” Alemi said, but the potential is huge. “We are more than just a consumer and a market. We want to be the author of ideas, the author of design and art.” Subscribe to BoF’s YouTube channel to never miss a video. CONNECT WITH THE BUSINESS OF FASHION: Web: https://www.businessoffashion.com Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/BoF Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/businessoffa... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BoF LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-... Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/fashionbu... Newsletter: https://www.businessoffashion.com/new... ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF FASHION: The Business of Fashion is a next-generation fashion media company conceived for today’s global and hyper-connected world. Founded in 2007 by Imran Amed, BoF is known for its authoritative, agenda-setting point of view on the global fashion industry, and is an