CNN's global series i-List takes you to a different country each month. In December, we visit Turkey and look at changes shaping the country's economy, culture and social fabric. Gaziantep, Turkey (CNN) -- Once considered a charming and provincial border town, business today couldn't be better in Gaziantep, a booming industrial city in southeastern Turkey. Located on the ancient Silk Road trading route, Gaziantep is enjoying newfound prosperity, thanks to an easing of old regional tensions, which has helped fuel both trade and tourism. According to the city's Chamber of Commerce, Gaziantep's exports increased 156% between 2004 and 2009, with many of those goods going to Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Trade with neighboring Syria has flourished since the establishment of a free trade zone agreement, according to Asim Guzelbey, the mayor of Gaziantep. All industrial products from Syria enter Turkey without any taxes, Guzelbey said. "And industrial products from Turkey are being sent to Syria."

Throughout history, the old Silk Road always played a significant role in forging political and trading relationships. For Gaziantep, it now seems a new Silk Road may be doing the very same. Professional Makeup Mirror With Lights SydneyForms of trade established centuries ago are still practiced in this city. Aussie Puppies For Sale TxSome workshops still weave beautiful kilim rugs by hand -- a process that is rigorous yet rewarding.Cow Vacuum Cleaner Cover At the same time, modern methods are also being incorporated. While many carpets are still designed by hand, most now are made by machine. "While Turkey used to be a machine carpet importer, it's now a high-level exporter," said Mahmut Erdemoglu of carpet manufacturer Merinos Carpets.

According to Erdemoglu, Gaziantep exports about a billion dollars worth of machine-made carpets every year. A range of goods are being manufactured and sold in this commercial hub. In addition to textiles, local companies are selling wedding dresses to France and shoes to Italy. Gaziantep, which is renowned for its traditional Turkish sweets -- in particular, baklava -- is even venturing into chocolate, with exports of the sweet stuff headed to Switzerland. The city isn't just sending out products. It's also drawing in tourists. Tourists from Syria have been flocking to the city ever since visa restrictions between Syria and Turkey were lifted last September. "Due to her geopolitical position, Gaziantep is the luckiest city," Guzelbey said. She is a border city, an industrial city and also a trade city. When all these are put together, "it's easy to see that Gaziantep is a rising star," he said. Sometimes a little drama on your wedding day is a good thing. As long as it’s your backless wedding dress that’s causing the excitement.

Backless wedding dresses provide an elegant and intricate detail in an unexpected place. With fronts that are understated, backless wedding dresses create two jaw-dropping moments for the bride, one as she enters and one as she turns around. With a low back wedding dress, it's like having two dresses in one! A backless wedding dress works well on many figures from athletic to pear shaped and it is a great way to show off some skin in a way that is sexy but classy, modest but flirtatious. This detail adds visual interest to an understated front and is a wonderful surprise for guests who may spend most of the ceremony staring at your back. Why not let them look at something amazing and unexpected? Perfect with an updo and minimalist bridal headpieces and bridal jewelry, low back wedding dresses ensure that you are the center of attention coming and going. The latest Justin Alexander collection incorporates exquisite handcrafted details into each of the designer wedding gowns. Justin Alexander’s couture wedding dresses are produced from precious fabrics such as silk dupion, Venice and Chantilly laces and silk metallic lurex.

The latest collection introduces a higher emphasis on wedding gowns with lace details such as style 8663 and 8654. These two designer wedding dresses incorporate delicate lace to achieve flawless and refined mermaid wedding dresses. Designer wedding dresses such as 9703 and 9700 from the Justin Alexander Signature collection are the perfect choice for fashion forward chic brides. A popular trend with brides this season is incorporating subtle color into their bridal looks such as style 9703 and its light gold and silver details. This beaded lace, tulle and satin mermaid gown features a delicate illusion Sabrina neckline. The fine beaded trim at the neckline and waist frames the bodice to create a more defined waist.Wedding blast in Turkey's Gaziantep leaves 8 dead, 60 wounded - security sources About our Humanitarian coverage FEATURE-Prostitution 'easiest way out' for Zambia's drought-stricken farmers Kenya to plant a "green dress" the size of Costa Rica Sex trafficking victims found at illicit Texas social sites, report finds

India's Muslim women say justification for triple talaq, polygamy is medieval UK abandons plans to privatise Land Registry - government source (Repeats to fix headline) DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Eight people were killed and 60 wounded when a blast targeted an outdoor wedding celebration in the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep on Saturday evening, security sources said. Islamic State militants were believed to be behind the attack, Samil Tayyar, a minister from the ruling AK Party said on Twitter. (Additional Reporting by Gulsen Solaker, writing by David Dolan, editing by G Crosse)Gaziantep (Turkey) (AFP) - A suicide bomber as young as 12 killed at least 51 people at a wedding in Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday, pointing the finger at the Islamic State group.Erdogan said Saturday's blast in Gaziantep near the Syria border "was the result of a suicide bomber aged between 12 and 14 who either detonated (the bomb) or others detonated it."The explosion was the latest attack to rock the key NATO member in a horrific year that has seen strikes blamed on Kurdish and Islamist militants as well as a bloody July 15 botched coup.

The president said the Islamic State group was the "likely perpetrator" of the bomb attack, the deadliest in 2016, that targeted a celebration attended by many Kurds.The remains of a suicide vest were found at the scene, the chief prosecutor's office said according to broadcaster CNN-Turk.Gulser Ates, one of scores wounded in the attack, told Hurriyet the attack took place as the party was breaking up in the mainly Kurdish neighbourhood."We were sitting on chairs, having a chat with one of our neighbours."During the explosion, the neighbour died on top of me. I remember being underneath. If my neighbour hadn't fallen on top of me, I would have died," she said."The bride and groom's happiest day was poisoned."The bride and groom -- Besna and Nurettin Akdogan -- were rushed to hospital but were not seriously wounded.According to the state-run Anadolu news agency, the bride was released from hospital, saying as she left: "They turned our wedding into a bloodbath."She later returned to hospital after repeatedly fainting, Anadolu reported.- Women and children wounded -Funerals for many of the victims took place on Sunday with an AFP photographer saying some covered relatives' coffins with the Kurdistan flag.

As hundreds waited to say their final goodbye, some voiced anger at what they perceived to be the government's failure to prevent the attack.Shouts of "shame on you, Erdogan" rang out while others hurled water bottles at police who kept their distance from rowdy crowds for fear of violence.One distraught mother wailed: "I lost my children, now I will never see them again."Erdogan told reporters the death toll was now 51 with 94 hurt in the attack.A total of 69 people remained in hospital, with 17 in critical condition.Health Minister Recep Akdag said a large number of those injured were women and children.- 'You will not succeed' -The bride and groom were reportedly from the mainly Kurdish region of Siirt further to the east and had themselves been uprooted due to the flare-up in violence with Kurdish militants.The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) said its members had been present at the wedding, also attended by many women and children.Erdogan said such attacks aimed to sow division between Turkey's different groups including Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen and to "spread incitement along ethnic and religious lines".

Many jihadists see Kurds as one of their main enemies, with Kurdish militias playing a significant role in the fight against IS on the ground in Syria.A defiant Erdogan said there was "no difference" between the group of US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen -- whom he blames for the failed coup bid -- the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) "and Daesh (IS), the likely perpetrator of the attack in Gaziantep"."Our country and our nation have again only one message to those who attack us -- you will not succeed!" he said.Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Gaziantep would show the same spirit it had shown in 1921, when it defeated French forces in Turkey's Independence War which led to the word Gazi (war hero) being added to its original name of Antep.World leaders condemned the suicide bombing, with French President Francois Hollande denouncing the "vile" incident and German Chancellor Angela Merkel calling the attack "cowardly and underhand".The United States also condemned the "heinous attack".

"We stand by our ally and partner Turkey and reaffirm our commitment to defeating the common threat of terrorism," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.The pope urged the faithful to pray for the victims while UN chief Ban Ki-moon called for the perpetrators to be "quickly identified and brought to justice".- 'More active' Syria role -A major city just 60 kilometres (37 miles) north of the Syrian border, Gaziantep has become a hub for Syrians fleeing the civil war in their country.But as well as refugees and opposition activists, there have long been fears it was home to a significant jihadist presence.IS suicide bombers have carried out several attacks in Istanbul this year, while Kurdish militants have hit targets in both Ankara and Istanbul.On Thursday, 12 people were killed in three bombings blamed on the PKK, who Erdogan said had killed 70 members of the security forces in the last month alone.The blast in Gaziantep came just hours after Yildirim said Ankara would play a "more active" role in efforts to solve the Syrian civil war.