Uzbek Silk
Uzbekistan Silk production
Silk production in Margilan
In the early days, silk was considered a luxury. Silk was the most valuable material, that was practiced for the generation of money, as a tribute and as a means of payment. Pieces of silk cloth were discovered in Northern Bactria (Kampir-Tepa, 3rd-2nd century BC) are proof of the complex evolution of silk production in ancient times in Central Asia. Bukhara was originally the center of local silk production, after which the center was moved to the Ferghana Valley particularly Margilan.
Silk production in the Margilan city dates back to the 10th century. The city was famous for great masters – craftsmen of silk fabrics such as adras, ikat, khan-atlas, and many others. Gorgeous silk, manufactured in the city and its surroundings, was exported to Europe and the East along the ancient Great Silk Road routes into Baghdad, Kashgar, Khurasan, Egypt, and Greece. Yet today Margilan considers as the silk capital of Uzbekistan. It produces the famous khan-atlas, woven and dyed by hand under old-fashioned technology.
The secret to Uzbek silk cultivation is to have both silkworms and mulberry trees, preferably the white mulberry, which is the only food the silkworms, or more accurately, what the silk butterfly caterpillars will eat. They are essentially mulberry leaf-eating machines. When the caterpillars are fully grown, they produce a cocoon by extruding silk from their bodies.
Margilan silk workshops
Margilan is an Ubek town and the center of Uzbekistan’s silk-producing industry locater right next to beg city of Fergana and about a 1-hour drive from Kokand. Margilan is an excellent town to observe the art of spinning and winding and dyeing and weaving silk by hand is a fascinating, unique experience. Over one thousand years of silk-producing history have shaped the “ikat” style Margilan is renowned for. From traditional bright colors to color combinations of the latest fashion, you will find something to suit every taste.
Visit one of the private homes and small enterprises, where you can be guided by the host and they will show you everything. From one workshop toom to another workshop you can see the entire process, from the unraveling of the pure white silk thread of the cocoons to the abr, and the tying and dying to the final weaving into amazingly and miraculously patterned fabrics.
Ikat, Adras
The most popular method of Uzbek silk weaving is ikat or ikkat. Ikat is a Malay-Indonesian term for cloth which is patterned by dyeing the threads before it has been woven. In Uzbek, the term is used as a brand, literally “to tie a cloud”. Fabric made in such a way using silk for warp and cotton threads for weft is called adras. Adras was forgotten during the Soviet time of Uzbek history.
The process of obtaining silk
There are several steps processed, which are all done by hand: boiling the cocoons of the silkworms and extracting the silk thread, spinning and dyeing the silk, using vegetable dyes and sometimes crushed minerals, and lastly weaving the colorful ikat fabric on traditional looms.
In the workshop we visited, the host explained to us the drawing process, covering with rolling tape and dyeing method. Normally the boys are studying here and learning from the experienced masters.
Drawing the Uzbek silk patterns and taping
Masters draw the patterns on the silk thread using black clay under the pot. The patterns must be geometrically correct with several lines applied therefore the works is required, patients. Before coloring the white threads, in the beginning, they tape the parts which must be left as it is white.
Uzbek silk dyes
Depending on the type of pattern, silk can be dyed in different ways. For the stronger colors, the water must be hot. The dyeing color is made of natural plants.
More about Uzbek Culture & Handicrafts
Page updated 28.5.2022
