Tuesday, March 30, 2010

What in the world is a Shyrdak?

A Shyrdak is a colorful felt rug or wall covering handmade in Central Asia, and most commonly, Kyrgyztan.  They were originally used as the floor of Kyrgyz nomadic people's yurts.  Today they are also made and sold to tourists, who appreciate the colorful designs as a centerpiece for modern interior decor.

 Photos courtesy of Felt

Shyrdak's can be bought from various places on the internet from NGO's that promote fair trade and employ local women to Interior Decor Shops specializing in world style to Ebay.  The prices are way below what you would expect to pay for something so intricate.  I'm really excited about the possibilities of using these bright colors in my designs!  A definite inspiration!

1 comment:

  1. If you are interested in Shyrdak or in Kyrgyz handicrafts in general www.aspira-handicrafts.kg is for you.

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