Ivory and Red Pomegranate Embroidered Silk Cushion Cover - Passion Portrait

Artisan Organization: Muhabbat Qo'chqorova

Country: Silk Road

"My name is Muhabbat Qo'chqorova and I am an artisan of so'zani art, which signifies the art of Uzbek traditional embroidery. I entered this craft at the age of 27, with the purpose of preserving our vanishing national values, and today I have achieved numerous milestones in this field.

The fabrics I use are bo'z (calico), adras (handwoven cotton), and satin (cotton fabric). The bo'z fabric I use is woven by the Blind Society of the Shofirkon district, while I procure adras and satin fabrics from the Fergana region. All the fabrics I employ are hand-woven. I am involved in every step of the production process, starting from growing silk cocoons and spinning a cocoon to obtaining the finished so'zani. Every detail in my work holds significant importance for me. I rely on natural dyes, resulting in the unique colors I use in my works. I prefer to draw patterns for my embroidery, mainly inspired by ancient designs.

One of my primary current objectives is to introduce my embroidery to the world by participating in festivals and fairs held in various countries. Additionally, I aspire to offer more masterclasses, guiding people through the entire process from the initial steps to the final ones. Regularly, tourists visit my home museum to witness the evolution of so'zani, from its inception to the final stage.

My childhood was spent in the Savrak village of the Shofirkon district in the Bukhara region. In fact, I learned this art form from my mother. When I was young, my mother and a few other girls were constantly engaged in daily embroidery work. At that time, I had no inkling that embroidery would become my primary business. I can proudly state that my friends take pride in my accomplishments, as I have provided employment to more than 200 unemployed women and, thanks to my craftsmanship, I've had the opportunity to travel to various countries around the world.

I am motivated to do my job as I believe challenges of life make a person grow.""