Uzbek handicrafts: a renaissance that boosts tourism

16-06-24

The revival of traditional handicrafts in Uzbekistan, increasingly integrated into everyday life, is booming and increasing its tourist appeal to foreigners interested in the indigenous.

"We observe a trend of a return to our origins. It's an awakening of the people," says Noilya Usmanova, an Uzbek designer who believes that traditional dress is essential to national identity.

In Central Asia, interest in handicrafts using ancient materials is enjoying a renaissance. In Uzbekistan, chapan and tubeteikas, worn even in Soviet times, were never considered archaic and are now booming.

Usmanova fuses Uzbek style with modern clothing, mixing chapan or abaya with contemporary denim and pants. Inspired by a walk in Samarkand, she incorporates floral and pomegranate embroidery into her designs.