Inkar Talpakova | 11.04.2025
The Economic Rise of Kazakh Traditional Style
The popularity of Kazakh traditional jewellery and clothing has developed into a meaningful cultural and economic trend. While the small businesses and new brands are driven mainly by the increasing interest in Kazakh cultural values, this shift has also affected several sectors of Kazakhstan’s economy.
A major economic impact can be observed in the growth of small businesses and brands. Artisans who specialise in traditional silver jewellery, embroidery, and handmade garments have experienced higher demand both within Kazakhstan and abroad. For example, L’Aroush Jewellery, a Kazakh jewellery brand extremely popular among women, produces rings, bracelets, and necklaces in specific collections that showcase some of Kazakhstan's traditions. Collections are called “The Heart”, “Queen of the Steppe,” and "Mother & Daughter”, which portray Kazakh traditional ornaments with different meanings depending on the collection. When consumers purchase more Kazakh culture-inspired products for everyday wear, celebrations, and public events, many craftspeople benefit from more stable income streams. This trend also allows younger makers to enter the field, contributing to entrepreneurship and the expansion of skilled labour in craft-related professions. From an economic perspective, such entries occur in the long run, when sustained profitability motivates new producers to join the market.
The fashion industry has also been influenced. Designers constantly use traditional ornaments such as the popular Kazakh-shaped heart, shapan silhouettes, and elements of historic nomadic attire in modern collections of local brands. The increased demand, which is usually caused by well-thought-out marketing strategies, makes related industries, including textile manufacturing, metalwork, pattern-making, and specialised design services to work on the local brands all together. Both local and international fashion schools and training programs offer courses focused on heritage-based design, which creates a workforce that supports both cultural and economic development in Kazakhstan.
Cultural tourism is another area of economic benefit that comes from the rise in popularity of heritage-based and traditional clothes and jewellery. Visitors of Kazakhstan frequently seek authentic cultural products, and the visibility of traditional ornaments in modernised jewellery and clothing models increases their interest in purchasing locally made items. The beauty of Kazakh culture inspires jewellery and clothes that attract people from different countries. Craft markets, museum shops, and regional artisan centres see higher sales, particularly in areas with strong craft traditions such as Almaty, Turkistan, and Shymkent. Cultural festivals, exhibitions, and heritage events that showcase traditional but at the same time modern pieces attract more tourists, while they also support hospitality, transportation, and other service industries.
Through online platforms and social media, Kazakh designers and artisans reach markets outside the country. This jewellery and its modern interpretations of traditional elements appear in global fashion media, which causes an increase in consumers’ interests. Different clothing pieces help broaden Kazakhstan’s overall image, which is usually associated with natural resources and nomadic lifestyles. Government programs and private nonprofits provide artisans with funding and other opportunities to advertise their skills and products. That support supports Kazakhstan’s heritage while increasing employment. While local production of jewellery and clothes is not a dominant driver of Kazakhstan’s GDP, it represents valuable cultural and economic sectors with positive and useful implications.
A major economic impact can be observed in the growth of small businesses and brands. Artisans who specialise in traditional silver jewellery, embroidery, and handmade garments have experienced higher demand both within Kazakhstan and abroad. For example, L’Aroush Jewellery, a Kazakh jewellery brand extremely popular among women, produces rings, bracelets, and necklaces in specific collections that showcase some of Kazakhstan's traditions. Collections are called “The Heart”, “Queen of the Steppe,” and "Mother & Daughter”, which portray Kazakh traditional ornaments with different meanings depending on the collection. When consumers purchase more Kazakh culture-inspired products for everyday wear, celebrations, and public events, many craftspeople benefit from more stable income streams. This trend also allows younger makers to enter the field, contributing to entrepreneurship and the expansion of skilled labour in craft-related professions. From an economic perspective, such entries occur in the long run, when sustained profitability motivates new producers to join the market.
The fashion industry has also been influenced. Designers constantly use traditional ornaments such as the popular Kazakh-shaped heart, shapan silhouettes, and elements of historic nomadic attire in modern collections of local brands. The increased demand, which is usually caused by well-thought-out marketing strategies, makes related industries, including textile manufacturing, metalwork, pattern-making, and specialised design services to work on the local brands all together. Both local and international fashion schools and training programs offer courses focused on heritage-based design, which creates a workforce that supports both cultural and economic development in Kazakhstan.
Cultural tourism is another area of economic benefit that comes from the rise in popularity of heritage-based and traditional clothes and jewellery. Visitors of Kazakhstan frequently seek authentic cultural products, and the visibility of traditional ornaments in modernised jewellery and clothing models increases their interest in purchasing locally made items. The beauty of Kazakh culture inspires jewellery and clothes that attract people from different countries. Craft markets, museum shops, and regional artisan centres see higher sales, particularly in areas with strong craft traditions such as Almaty, Turkistan, and Shymkent. Cultural festivals, exhibitions, and heritage events that showcase traditional but at the same time modern pieces attract more tourists, while they also support hospitality, transportation, and other service industries.
Through online platforms and social media, Kazakh designers and artisans reach markets outside the country. This jewellery and its modern interpretations of traditional elements appear in global fashion media, which causes an increase in consumers’ interests. Different clothing pieces help broaden Kazakhstan’s overall image, which is usually associated with natural resources and nomadic lifestyles. Government programs and private nonprofits provide artisans with funding and other opportunities to advertise their skills and products. That support supports Kazakhstan’s heritage while increasing employment. While local production of jewellery and clothes is not a dominant driver of Kazakhstan’s GDP, it represents valuable cultural and economic sectors with positive and useful implications.
