Kunduz Ikat — handcrafted clothing and accessories from Uzbek ikat
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About me
My name is Kunduz. I am a mother of four sons and a trained endocrinologist. If someone had told me a few years ago that I would be creating pieces from Uzbek ikat, I would never have believed them. 😁
At first, I started working with ikat simply because I found it beautiful. But the more I learned about how authentic ikat is made—and how many people, how much knowledge, and how many hours of handwork go into every metre—the more fascinated I became. Over time, I realised that ikat is much more than just fabric. It is history, culture, and a true art form that has lived on for generations.
Today, through my brand, I strive to show that ikat can be modern, stylish, and comfortable enough for everyday life. I love combining ethnic elements with urban style and creating pieces that fit naturally into a modern wardrobe while offering a fresh perspective on our cultural heritage. ✨
My goal is to show the world that Uzbek ikat is not only clothing for celebrations and national events. It is a fabric that deserves to become part of everyday life. I create pieces that prove ikat can be modern, stylish, comfortable, and practical while still preserving its history, culture, and value.
About the brand
For me, ikat is far more than a beautiful fabric. It is history, culture, and a centuries-old craft that still preserves handwork, traditional techniques, and deep respect for craftsmanship. My goal is to show that Uzbek ikat deserves to be part of modern life—not only as national dress or festive attire, but also as part of an everyday wardrobe. That is why I create clothing and accessories that combine contemporary design, comfort, and authentic cultural heritage.
A special place in the brand’s story belongs to my grandmother, Khalimakhan Alimova. She began her career as an ordinary shift supervisor at a manufacturing facility and, through her knowledge, hard work, and devotion to her profession, became the leading silk specialist across the entire Soviet and post-Soviet region. A Doctor of Technical Sciences, academician, professor, and long-serving rector of the Tashkent Institute of Textile and Light Industry, she dedicated her entire life to the development of the textile industry and the preservation of its traditions.
It is a great honour for me to continue this legacy in my own way—not through science, but through contemporary design, creating pieces that offer a new perspective on Uzbek ikat. Each collection is an opportunity to tell the world about a fabric shaped by dozens of hours of handwork, skills passed down from generation to generation, and the rich history of Uzbekistan.
The brand’s mission is to preserve and promote Uzbek ikat by transforming cultural heritage into a part of modern life. We want people around the world to wear ikat not only because it is beautiful, but because they understand its value, respect the work of the artisans, and feel connected to the history that continues through every piece.
In 2017, the traditional ikat-making technique of Margilan was included by UNESCO in the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices for Intangible Cultural Heritage. This recognition confirmed the uniqueness of a craft that continues to preserve traditional methods of yarn dyeing, weaving, and knowledge passed down from generation to generation.
- Only high-quality natural fabrics
- Every piece is handmade
- Each colorway is produced in just 2–3 pieces — the items are exclusive
- Many pieces suit both women and men
- Easy to style for different looks — from everyday to statement
Our pieces
Our pieces are worn all over the world
How ikat is born
Ikat is a unique fabric-making technique, considered one of the main symbols of Uzbekistan's textile heritage ✨
What makes ikat special is that the threads are first hand-dyed according to a specific pattern, and only then woven into fabric. That is why ikat patterns have their characteristic soft, slightly blurred lines — not a defect, but the fabric’s main feature and value.
Creating genuine Uzbek ikat is a complex, multi-stage process backed by an enormous amount of handwork and the labor of many masters.
Stages of making ikat
Preparing the threads
First the masters prepare silk or cotton threads. The threads are stretched and sorted by hand.
Marking the pattern
The future design is marked on the threads by hand. It is at this stage that the ornament is created.
Tying the threads
Certain sections of the threads are tightly tied so the dye cannot reach those areas. This is one of the most labor-intensive processes.
Hand dyeing
The threads are dyed by hand in several stages. For each color the tying and dyeing process is repeated again.
Drying the threads
After dyeing, the threads are carefully dried naturally.
Removing the ties
When dyeing is finished, the masters remove all the ties, and the recognizable ikat pattern appears.
Weaving
Only after all the stages are the dyed threads sent to the loom, where the finished fabric is woven by hand.
Uzbek ikat is valued around the world because, to this day, Uzbekistan has preserved the traditional methods of hand-dyeing and weaving passed down from generation to generation 🌿
Behind a single meter of fabric are hours of handwork, attention to detail and the experience of masters built over decades. That is why ikat is not just a fabric, but part of culture, history and heritage.
Kunduz. Ikat is a Lifestyle
We don’t follow trends — we set them.