Uzbek fabrics: photos, features and benefits

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Uzbek fabrics appeared thousands of years ago, when three great Khanates were formed on the territory of the modern state: Khiva, Bukhara and Kokand. These fabrics were known far beyond the borders of Uzbekistan. Clothes made of cotton and silk were a sign of high status, so women from the harems of the eastern rulers certainly wore such dresses and hats.

What are fabrics?

Uzbek national fabrics come in a variety of types, ranging from ordinary cotton material to exquisite silk. Yarn manufacturing technology takes a lot of time and effort, so most of the production in modern Uzbekistan is automated.

Here are the types of fabrics you can buy in the noisy bazaars:

• Satin is the most famous and colorful silk material from which light and airy outfits are sewn.
• Cotton natural - used for sewing dressing gowns, underwear andshirts. Many different tarpaulins are produced from cotton, which are very popular among the population. If the nobility wore silk robes with velvet suspenders, then ordinary dekhkans (peasants) wore plain clothes made of buz (like linen fabric), docks (very reminiscent of gauze) and janda, from which skullcaps were sewn for the head.
• Velvet is a very soft and pleasant to the touch material, from which not only clothes are sewn, but also decorations for decorating rooms.

Features

First of all, when looking at Uzbek fabrics, very bright and colorful patterns are thrown, which, undoubtedly, please the eye and involuntarily cause a smile. Depending on the patterns and ornament, the fabric is divided into everyday and festive. Clothes that are planned to be worn at some solemn event are always sewn from the most expensive types of fabric. And such are silk and khan-atlas, which are incredibly smooth and light.

Dresses made from the famous satin khan are ideal for any type of girl, because they, like the feathers of the Semurg bird, smoothly lie on the body and seem to envelop it, highlighting all the advantages and hiding the flaws.

In general, all silk produced in Uzbekistan is the finest work of art. Each thread is connected and intertwined with the previous one in such an intricate way that it is impossible to trace its beginning and end. And the outfits sewn by Uzbek craftswomen from silk atlases will adorn any woman. Even modern fashion designers have paid special attentionattention to this amazing and truly feminine fabric. On world catwalks, you can often see beauties in the national pride of Uzbekistan - in clothes from khan-atlas!

Interesting geography

The main national treasure in the field of textiles - atlas-khan - is made in historical places of Uzbekistan. If in central cities like Tashkent, Andijan and Fergana they switched to industrial production of fabrics long ago, then in ancient Samarkand, Khiva and Bukhara they still honor traditions and create Uzbek fabrics by hand according to the ancient rules of weaving. Every year, thousands of tourists from all over the world come to the historical cities of ancient Uzbekistan to plunge into the amazing and original culture of this country. Many people are surprised by the number of folk crafts that exist here, one of which is weaving.

The process of creating fabrics is very laborious: first, the craftswomen knit a bundle of threads, then dye them using the "abr" (cloud) technology. Everything is done by hand, and therefore it can take a whole week of painstaking work to create one standard cut. When the fabric is woven, patterns appear on it.

Sericulture

The quality of the silk from which the fabric itself is made plays a very important role. Real silk comes from the cocoon of a caterpillar called the silkworm. For the first time, these small butterflies were bred in China specifically for sericulture. In those days, this refined fabric was an important component of the economy.many eastern countries. Camel caravans loaded with bales of magnificent Chinese and Uzbek satin (silk fabric) traveled to distant lands to trade and exchange outlandish goods.

Uzbekistan also did not stand aside and started growing shrubs. Silkworm caterpillars can only feed on the leaves of mulberry trees, so the inhabitants of ancient settlements began to plant gardens with these shrubs. Until now, in many cities of the republic, you can find small trusts that have their own base for the production of real silk.

The process of obtaining silk is very interesting. Butterflies first lay eggs, which hatch into caterpillars. These silkworms eat mulberry leaves for 30 days, after which they begin to pupate. For 4-5 days they weave a cocoon, which is a continuous silk thread. The length and color of the final product depends largely on the species of butterflies, as well as on environmental conditions (temperature, humidity and amount of food). Modern mulberry caterpillars weave exclusively white silk thread, the length of which in one cocoon can reach more than 1000 meters.

Varieties of Atlas Khan

The Uzbek fabric in the photo, which shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow, is called satin. There are more than 100 different types of this fabric, which are produced both on a production scale and in a single copy. The most famous of them are:

• Adras is half silk and half cotton adds a little durability to its texture.
• Shoi andundershoes - this fabric is made exclusively from real silk, so it feels very soft and smooth to the touch.
• Pashma is another satin fabric that contains cotton.
• Bekasab and banoras are the most beautiful and delicate fabrics from which dresses for the bride are sewn.

As you know, a girl's dowry speaks not only about her personal tastes, but also emphasizes the status of her family. In eastern countries, they are very fond of jewelry, especially gold. However, not everyone can afford an expensive and luxurious dowry, so for a long time the fabric was created with patterns that, with their beauty, would replace all the beauty of precious jewelry.

Where can I find Uzbek fabrics in Moscow?

Not everyone will find opportunities to travel to the ancient cities of Uzbekistan, but anyone who wishes to feel the romance of oriental fairy tales and legends will be able to purchase patterned silk fabrics in the capital of Russia. The Uzbek fabric store in Moscow is located near the Kozhukhovskaya metro station, on Yuzhnoportovaya street, 13. At this address there is a large boutique "Caravan of Uzbek Souvenirs", where you can buy the most colorful fabrics. From satin you can sew such chic dresses, before which many world fashion brands will fade.

The most famous ornaments on the atlas are kapalak (butterfly), ilon izi (snake footprint), gadjak (jewelry, earrings), bodom (almond), tumor (omlet), taroqcha (scallop), chaqiriq (echo) and others. With so much variety, it's hard to resist buying them all.types of atlas and not lose your head. When choosing a fabric, you should consider the style of the future dress, as well as your figure. The main thing is to choose the right pattern. And in this you will be helped by real specialists in Uzbek fabrics - craftsmen and seamstresses who have extensive experience working with silk atlases and velvet.