“Bride kidnapping is not our tradition,” Zamira explains with passion, adding, “‘bride kidnapping’ has always been a form of forced marriage, and not a traditional practice.”Įlzat, one of 12 models in the fashion show, said she was glad to participate in the event last October to highlight her painful experience, encourage women to resist and flee forced marriages, and support each other to do so. Her answer was to organize a fashion show featuring only women who had been abused or kidnapped, dressed as historical Kyrgyz women, because supporters of bride kidnapping often cite tradition as an argument to justify the illegal act. “Can’t we women do something against the violence taking place in our country?” Zamira asked herself. The story sparked national outrage and protests, with many campaigners insisting that “more severe sentences are often issued for kidnapping livestock” than women.įashion designer Zamira Moldosheva is part of a rising public movement against “bride kidnapping.” In 2018, “kidnapped bride” Burulai Turdaaly Kyzy, 20, was locked in the same police cell as the man who abducted her - where he stabbed her to death. Women activists have brought increased attention to the persistent violation in the recent years.

Photos: Thomson Reuters Foundation/Shanshan Chen.Her courageous example is important for other women, because despite the crime being outlawed in Kyrgyzstan in 2013 and punishable by up to 10 years in prison, thousands of women continue to be abducted and forced to marry each year, particularly in rural regions. “I hope the fashion show, depicting historical women figures, will help to bring the taboo subject to the fore,” she explains. Today, as Elzat proudly walks down a catwalk under the spotlights, her nightmare experience is behind her.Įlzat is part of a fashion show to raise awareness against bride kidnappings. She escaped the attempted forced marriage because of her own, and her mother’s courage and understanding of Kyrgyzstan’s legal system. Because of her action, the groom’s family finally let Elzat go. However, her mother understood that her daughter was a victim of a crime and threatened to call the police. She thought it would bring shame to our family if I did not marry him and tried convincing me to stay.” Groom’s family - and her own - to stop the forced marriage. “I couldn’t move or do anything at all.”Įlzat was taken to the groom’s home in the rural Issyk Kul region, where she was dressed in white for an impending ceremony. “I felt as if I was an animal,” she recalls. Mini Mode, a platform that showcases the world's both established and emerging children's fashion designers during LFW, gives kids a chance to get into the industry regardless of their experience.Ī week before Christmas, Indie received the exciting news that she had been one of the first few models selected to appear in the Mini Mode catwalk.Five years ago Elzat was grabbed off a Kyrgyzstan street by a group of men wanting to marry her to an uninvited suitor. 'I miss Darcey too' - Inspirational girl helps spread awareness of sibling loss.

Meet the young hero who saved his nana's life thanks to a first aid course.In November 2019 after seeing other young models applying, Carly thought she would give it a go and applied Indie for Mini Mode's casting for LFW.

While out with Indie people would regularly mention to Carly how pretty she was, so when Indie turned three years old, Carly decided to try to get her into the modelling industry.Īfter struggling to get Indie signed onto local agencies, the Northumberland mum set up an Instagram account to showcase images of her daughter which started to get quite a lot of attention from photographers. Indie Watson walking down the London Fashion Week catwalk (Image: Carly Watson)

Criminal model runway walk