When I first visited Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (MBFW) Tbilisi in 2018, the city was full of creative optimism. Demna, a famous Georgian fashion export, was making waves at Balenciaga and Vetements, and plenty of eyes were on the capital, scouting for the next breakout star. Designers, drag performers, and club kids alike were collaborating on subversive, politically charged shows and events, culminating in an output that was an electric mélange of queer culture, performance, and bold resistance to the nation’s Soviet roots.