Fashion Institute starts up in Almaty

The official start-up of Kazakhstan's fashion education project -- Kazakhstan Fashion Institute (KFI) -- has been held in Almaty, Tengrinews.kz reports. The institute's main goal is to provide an opportunity for self-actualization and start of a professional career in the fashion industry. "Not many have a chance to get an education in the fashion industry. Kazakhstan has not filled the niche yet. Our goal is to give basic knowledge and show the right direction to those who are eager to stick their life to fashion," one of the founders of the institute Zhanel Bertayeva said at the press-conference in Almaty. Kazakhstan Fashion Institute will be based on experience of international teachers and adapted to the post-soviet market. It will offer two-months-long courses. Professionals and professors from Europe, Ukraine and the United States as well as Kazakhstan's own experts will share their knowledge with the students. The course will have four basic directions: fashion media, fashion management, fashion styling and fashion photography. "We are at the stage when classic education lags behind time. Before the Ministry finishes approving new education programs, adopting it and releasing the course books, the media and the internet will go so far ahead, that the approved education program becomes irrelevant and lags behind time. (...) It is very important that something like Fashion Institute is available besides regular universities. It makes up to date knowledge more available, something you can get today and apply today," chief editor of Ukrainian Vogue Maria Tsukanova said. Kiev Fashion Institute is the main partner of KFI. It’s professionals will also share their experience with Kazakhstan students. The project was supported by the Culture Department of Almaty city. By Aizhan Tugelbayeva