Costume Collection:
          
         "Splendors of the Silk Road"

Please note, these costumes are not for sale. Photographs have been posted for educational purposes.

Costume Lecture
"Splendors of the Silk Road"

Dr. Laurel Victoria Gray uses the clothing and textiles of Silk Road cultures to provide insight into the
everyday life of women. The meaning
of symbolic elements and the practical
purposes of designs help weave a story
of traditional civilizations.

She has presented this lecture for the Middle East Institute in Washington DC;
Humanitities West in San Francisco, California; Association of American University Women in Petersburg, Virginia; Seattle-Tashkent Sister City Association in Seattle, Washington;
Oasis Dance Camp in Traverse City, Michigan; and the annual conference of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations.

Crimean Tatar Costume

Gift to Laurel Victoria Gray from Crimean Tatar dance
soloist with Ensemble formerly based in Uzbekistan.

Uzbek Bukharan Costume

Gift of Honored Artist of Uzbekistan Viktoria "Violat" Akilova. Sewn form fabric purchased by Laurel Victoria Gray in Tajikistan.

Russian Romany ("Gypsy") Costume

Sewn for Laurel Victoria Gray at the State Academic Bolshoi Theater of Opera and Ballet named for Alisher Navoi,

Uzbek Peacock Costume

 
Sewn for Laurel Victoria Gray in Tashkent, Ubekistan, with specially ordered applique elements and jewelry,

Persian Classical Dance Costume

Sewn for Laurel Victoria Gray at the State Academic Bolshoi Theater of Opera and Ballet named for Alisher Navoi. Coat
fabric purchased in Germany.

Azerbaijani Costume for
"Dancer of Shamakha" 

Sewn by  Laurel Victoria Gray  from  re-purposed vintage taffeta, velvet, and silk.

Turkmen Costume

Another item modeled in the ''Splendors of the Silk Road'' fashion show and lecture, this Turkmen costume consists of a dress with a highly embroidered garment with false sleeves. It is supposed to be worn over the head, like a paranjah
but for the photo, it is shown on the shoulders so the headdress, suitable for a
girl, can be seen.

Jewelry pieces have been sewn onto the dress, creating something of a portable bank account. In times of need, the silver jewelry could be removed and sold.

Laurel Victoria Gray acquired the headdress jewelry in the 1980s and the garments in the early 1990s.

Tajik Costume

The beautiful, bright orange dress embroidered with colorful flowers was a
personal costume of Peoples Artist of Uzbekistan, Dilyafruz Djabbarova, who
presented it to Laurel Victoria Gray. The sparkling crown was also a gift to Dr.
Gray from the choreographer Shakir Ahmedov of Tashkent;s Mukimi
Theater.

Azerbaijani Costume

This Azerbaijani dance costume was custom made according to traditional styles for Laurel Victoria Gray by Zinaida Kuraish of State Academic Bolshoi Theater of Opera and Ballet named for Alisher Navoi in Tashkent,Uzbekistan. The blouse is lace and the jacket is patterned with shades of bronze, black, and gold. The bronze satin skirt is very full.

The white silk veil is embellished with hundreds of single sequins sewn in patterns by hand by LVG.

C             oming soon -- more costumes from the collection!