International designers and fashion experts have already discovered the hidden gems of Tbilisi’s fashion scene. The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Tbilisi is a melting pot of concept artists and international fashion heavyweights, which is held every year in November and attracts numerous stars such as Paris-based Catherine Baba. Internationals not only come to Georgia to discover fashion designs, but Georgians have greatly ventured out into the Vogue capitals to imprint their understanding of style into Parisian and American fashion magazines.

Demna Gvasalia - a name you should remember if you haven’t come across it yet – stunned the conventions of France’s rigid fashion world by hosting a catwalk in the middle of Les Puces de Saint-Ouen flea market. The Georgian born designer is the new rising star and rejects glamour and luxury focusing on loosely cut garments embodying the rustic Soviet street style, while incorporating the airiness of American hip-hop clothes. His working style is an exemplar of how Georgian designer sell their designs – business is done online and marketing as well. Instagram is the number one platform to receive attention and before you fly into Tbilisi and stroll through the streets, inspire yourself through the profiles, such as Anouki Areshidze (@anoukigold), Anna Maria (@annamariafoxy) or Nino Eliava (@ninoeliava). You will prepare your eye for the real adventure of discovering the mixture of elegance and street fashion when you visit the stores in Tbilisi.

Concept and designer stores pop up at numerous street corners every couple of weeks and keeping track of all of them seems to require a dedicated passion for fashion. The following stores are a selection of places ranging from fancy ball dresses to unornamented watching-Netflix-on-the-couch hoodies.

CHAOS

Gola Damian and local celebrities Nini Nebieridze, Salome Bezarashvili and Nina Botchorishvili set up a fashionable concept store, encompassing art gallery and retailer in one room. Situated in a stylish hotel called Rooms, it’s easy to find as located at a highly frequented thoroughfare. International and Georgian labels are sold while art pieces such as a ready-to-sleep-on mattress give you the little buzz you need for a 2018 shopping experience. Adventurous clients may even be inclined to jump on the skate ramp exhibiting their skills (or lack thereof).

Instagram - @chaosconcept

16 Merab Kostava Str., Tbilisi

WASTED CONCEPT STORE 

Give 5 girls some space and tell them they can create something they feel the city is lacking - the product is Wasted Concept Store. Abstract paintings of red and blue on a plastic sheet charm the interior design and go well together with the minimalistic furnishings of refrigerators. A conglomeration of treasures picked from the city’s flea markets invites a young audience in search for funky fashion trends. The store ensures your avant-garde garms will attract every look, either while lingering in the city’s old town or, internationally, when posting an artsy pic on Instagram. A small taste: fishnet stockings, vintage Burberry, bombers and red patent leather thigh boots.

Facebook – wastedcs

32 Paliashvili Str., Tbilisi

TAMUNA INGOROKVA ATELIER

Rugby is Georgia’s favourite sport, and adjacent to the stadium Tamuna Ingorokva Atelier is situated on a busy street filled with mesmerizing smog created by Soviet-era vehicles. World-class designer Ingorokva is known for her hip leather creations, including footwear and other accessories in red, blue or black, the main colours used by Ingorokva presently. For extravagantly visitors with the necessary coin, she designs a personalized wedding dress, but also ready-to-wear garments are purchasable. This atelier definitely belongs on every bucket list for excursionists in need for the extra bit of fashion experience.

Instagram - @ingorokvatamuna

13 Mikheil Tamarashvili Str., Tbilisi

MADE IN GEORGIA

The name of the store explains perfectly its collection. This small store for Georgian designers and fashion innovators promotes the young, rising fashionistas of Tbilisi. Entering the store, you rapidly forget the communist apartment blocks in the city and find yourself in a world of haute couture and bliss. Demna Gvasalia’s fans will struggle to catch sight of his creations but are rather obliged to dwell in an opulence of luxurious, Georgian-based fashion designs made for your next candlelight dinner. The best place to discover high-class outfits in striving Tbilisi.

Facebook - MadeinGeorgiaTbilisi

73 Vasil Barnov Str., Tbilisi

There are many more concept and designer stores, which will have likely popped up until your arrival in Tbilisi so brace yourself for a time of discoveries and inspirations for your trip. Tbilisi’s fashion scene has only just woken up.

By Benjamin Music

Image source: Vogue