PARIS, December 1. /Dunyo IA/. An intercultural festival, “Ouzh’Breizh” was held in the town of La Chapelle-Bouëxic, located in the Brittany region of France, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The festival, dedicated to the preservation of traditional crafts and the promotion of cultural dialogue, served as a vivid testament to the growing interest of the French public in Uzbekistan’s rich heritage. The event showcased the country’s deep history and culture, traditional craftsmanship, and the tourism potential of Uzbekistan.

The organization of the event was greatly supported by the La Chapelle-Bouëxic City Hall, represented by Mayor Roger Morazan and Deputy Mayor for Culture Corinne Zouba, as well as the “Makosh” Association, led by Anna Caro, a prominent organizer of thematic festivals across France.

The festival also showcased unique, historically rich Suzani textiles and handcrafted souvenirs created by rural artisans from the “40 Qiz” project of the Tarika Center in Bukhara, led by Zulfiya Tairova.

As part of the festival, a fashion show featured both Uzbek and Breton models, with Uzbekistan represented with distinction by designer Feruza Yakubova from Tashkent’s “Kuk Masjid” Art Gallery. One of the showcases emerged from a spontaneous collaboration at the festival, presenting ensembles that creatively combined French clothing with Uzbek accessories and vice versa.

Workshops on traditional dolls, showcasing the transformation of national costumes, were conducted by Nasiba Akhmedova from the “Tumor” Art Gallery.

The role of the “Isteza” Cultural Center - a branch of the French association “Caravansérails on the Silk Road” and its representative, Irina Mavlanova, was also noteworthy. Their long-standing efforts in preserving Bukhara’s heritage, combined with their active participation in organizing the festival, were instrumental in its successful realization in Brittany.

The event also featured productive professional networking. The Breton Association of Traditional Costume Restorers expressed their readiness to provide expert and practical support to the “40 Qiz” project in creating replicas of museum exhibits in Bukhara. In addition, the project’s visionary, Corinne Zouba, proposed the creation of a joint collection of clothing and accessories by Uzbek and Breton designers.

In an exclusive interview with Dunyo IA correspondent, Roger Morazan, Mayor of La Chapelle-Bouëxic highlighted:

-                    The residents of La Chapelle-Bouëxic and neighboring communes welcomed the representatives from Uzbekistan with great interest and warmth. They brilliantly showcased their talents and skills. Naturally, we were all delighted by this encounter and the cultural exchange, which should continue through new opportunities for mutual exploration of our cultures. I can say that after seeing the exquisite handicrafts and fashion, and meeting these wonderful people from Uzbekistan, many residents of La Chapelle-Bouëxic, including myself, are inspired to visit your country.

According to the organizers and participants of the “Ouzh’Breizh” festival, the event held in the French region of Brittany significantly advanced intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding between the peoples and regions of Uzbekistan and France. It laid a solid foundation for new initiatives in tourism, art residencies, and social development projects.