Uzbekistan’s Teplo Store has opened the first-ever retail space at the 2025 London Design Biennale. The space, titled The Silk Road Pop-Up, is located at Somerset House and showcases sustainable fashion, handmade jewelry, textiles, accessories, and ceramics from Uzbekistan.
Hosted at Somerset House, the heart of the Biennale, Teplo Store’s immersive space, The Silk Road Pop-Up, blends commerce with culture, offering a curated retail experience that draws on centuries-old craft traditions from the Silk Road. The pavilion showcases sustainable fashion, handmade jewelry, traditional textiles, and ceramics — 95% of which are crafted by female-led brands deeply connected to local artisan communities.
“Being invited to open the first-ever international retail space at the 2025 London Design Biennale marks a defining moment not only for Teplo but for the entire community of Uzbek designers and artisans,” said co-founders Charos Kamalova and Timur Kamalov. “We believe this milestone will open doors for many more creators from our region and reaffirm the significance of authentic, world-class design from Central Asia on the international stage.”
The Silk Road Pop-Up was made possible with the support of AloqaBank and features the work of 15 independent designers from Uzbekistan, including names like Dildora Kasimova, Moel Bosh, Suraya Collection, and Art and Artisans. The space also includes a striking art installation by Zulfiya Spowart and was curated by art producer Alisa Lisovskaia. Designed by Tashkent-based ARC Architects, the structure weaves Silk Road themes into spatial storytelling and form.
This appearance at the Biennale comes just months after Teplo Store’s London debut in April 2025 with a pop-up in Soho. The brand’s presence at the Biennale now signals a broader mission — not just retail, but cultural diplomacy and global storytelling.
Founded in 2018 in Tashkent, Teplo Store has grown into a creative hub supporting more than 100 independent Uzbek designers. With a commitment to ethical production and cultural preservation, Teplo brings traditional techniques such as suzani embroidery, ikat weaving, and handcrafted ceramics to new international audiences.
The 2025 London Design Biennale, under the artistic direction of Dr. Samuel Ross MBE, brings together over 30 countries, cities, and organizations under the theme Surface Reflections, exploring how external influences shape internal design narratives.
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