As part of the International Exhibition and Fair TurkmenTextile Expo 2026, a fashion show was held in which Olga Kadeikina, a Russian architectural knitwear designer and founder of the SO_love brand, presented an adapted version of her collection entitled “From Russia with Love.”
As a member of the specialized committee on the wool-processing industry within the Russian Union of Textile and Light Industry Entrepreneurs (SOUZLEGPROM), Olga Kadeikina is deeply passionate about developing this sector. Accordingly, her own brand specializes in knitwear and works exclusively with Russian raw materials.
The show featured ten warm looks. The collection was built around textured jackets whose silhouettes visually referenced military uniforms of the early nineteenth century. This concept was not chosen by chance. The collection is dedicated to Nadezhda Durova—the first female officer in Russian history, the legendary “cavalry maiden,” and a heroine of the Patriotic War of 1812, whose remarkable life story was admired even by Alexander Pushkin.
A special place in the visual concept was occupied by a woodpecker motif featured on several garments. This was a direct reference to the historic coat of arms of the city of Yelabuga in the Republic of Tatarstan, where Nadezhda Durova spent the final years of her life. The collection’s cultural context was further emphasized by its musical accompaniment. The runway show took place to a contemporary arrangement of a waltz composed by the renowned diplomat and writer Alexander Griboyedov. This artistic choice created a harmonious blend of historical heritage and modern fashion trends.
The participation of the Russian brand in the Ashgabat exhibition was the result of successful international cooperation, the momentum for which was generated at the “Russia–Islamic World: KazanForum” International Economic Forum, held in Kazan in May of this year.
“At the forum in Kazan, I became genuinely interested in Turkmenistan’s exhibition stand,” Olga Kadeikina shared. “My colleagues presented me with local yarn—camel wool and goat down. The quality was simply incredible; I literally fell in love with the material. I was invited to take part in the fashion show in Ashgabat, and we quickly completed all the necessary arrangements. Now, after a very short time, I am here. This is my first visit to Turkmenistan, but I have already experienced the extraordinary warmth of this country. The people here are amazingly open and sincerely willing to help. I am familiar with Turkmenistan’s traditional arts and crafts, and I can say that if I had had a little more time, I would have gladly created a special collection dedicated to Turkmenistan using local yarn. If I am invited back next year, I will certainly bring this idea to life.”
