About Us
UzbekAlive is an ikat fabric online store dedicated to promoting artisanal textile heritage of Uzbekistan. Our focus is on Uzbek ikat fabrics and ikat related products such as ikat cushions, ikat quilts, ikat pillow covers, ikat silk scarves and ikat pattern hand painted bowls. In short, our main focus is on ikats.
We also feature some eclectic finds such as hand embroidered suzani and hand painted jewelry boxes which are miniature representations of Islamic mosaics and murals in a form of décor items.
We are a small privately owned business and are proud of it. In fact, we love being small, flexible and local. This allows us to give enough attention to our customers and we truly appreciate each interaction we have with them. Whether you are in the USA, Netherlands or Japan, we find it thrilling to be able to talk to you and to be a part of the global community.
We are internet based: we don’t have a store where we could treat you to a cup of tea but we do everything to share our warmth and kindness in online form. The easiest way to reach us is through our Contact Us page – we are just a message away.
We are self sustainable: everything you will find on this website was made of locally cultured silk and cotton, and made by local artisans. There is very little machinery involved in the process. Well, there was probably a tractor which picked cotton from cotton fields and there was a spinning machine involved in making silk yarn but that’s about it.
We are not about mass production: everything we offer is limited in quantities. Hand made can not be mass produced and that’s a beauty of it, not only because it is rare but also because it has a lower impact on the environment. Limited quantity items are loved, cherished and cared for.
And lastly, we are not associated with governmental agencies, credit institutions, global corporations or religious organizations.
Ikat fabrics, just like any other fabrics with a pattern, have a pattern repeat. Given that Uzbek handloom woven ikats are narrow, often times, for projects that require wider width of fabric, the pattern needs to be matched. For example, you want to use ikats for making curtains – 2 panels, 80cm wide, 3 meters long. Buying a little over 12 meters of 45cm wide fabric will not work for you. Why? Because you need to match the ikat pattern for your curtains and that pattern repeat may vary.
To solve this problem we at UzbekAlive offer the ikat pattern matching service. We have been doing this for our customers who, from our conversations, appeared unsure as to how much of the fabric to buy and we will continue doing this.
What’s the benefit? You only pay for the fabric you really need, what’s left from the middle pieces we use for our own projects. Win-win situation for all of us!
UzbekAlive was created by a small group of enthusiasts as a channel for promotion of work of Uzbek artisans. After several years of contemplating, in 2002 we finally put our efforts together and launched this website.
UzbekAlive was created by a small group of enthusiasts as a channel for promotion of work of Uzbek artisans. After several years of contemplating, in 2002 we finally put our efforts together and launched this website.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Absolutely stunning fabric of the highest quality. Im very pleased with my purchase.
I ordered 2 pillow covers and a very fragile bowl. The packaged traveled a far distance and it arrived at my doorestep in perfect condition. Really well packaged and fast delivery. Really like the quality and aeshetics of the poducts. My compliments to the makers of these products and thanks for the good service.
I just wanted to let you know that my order finally arrived today!!!,i'm so glad,i have to say that it's been worth the wait ,all the fabrics are just beautiful. Thank you very much.
Wow! What a treat to order a beautiful woven piece of art through modern technology and not travel and the excitement of receiving the precious little package wrapped as a gift. I'm ready to put this scarf to work and figure out which one I want next. Thank you. I can't stop looking at it.
The parcel just arrived and the fabric is gorgeous! Just what I hoped it would be...once it is made up into lampshades I will send you a photo so you can use it for your marketing. Please let the designers / producers know they have one more very happy customer! Many thanks!
The scarves arrived and they are a knockout!
The scarves arrived and they are a knockout! My wife was particularly pleased with the replacement scarf. All the best!