Rano Azimbayeva, a craftswoman from Gulistan, is known not only in Syrdarya region but also in the Indian cities of Dehradun and Kurukshetra as a skilled jeweler.

Her jewelry pieces, created in a traditional national style, have earned widespread acclaim at international exhibitions.

“There’s a saying among the people: ‘Even if only one woman remains in the world, a jeweler will still have work”, says R. Azimbayeva. “Since childhood, I dreamed of creating jewelry. I was inspired by my grandmother’s and aunt’s gold ornaments. I started with beadwork, later moved on to making jewelry that my family and neighbors appreciated, now the whole city knows about them”.

In recent years, the government of Uzbekistan has greatly emphasized the development of traditional crafts. Rano Azimbayeva’s work has reached a new level thanks to the created opportunities. She has participated in both national and international exhibitions, showcasing her jewelry at craft festivals in Syrdarya, Surkhandarya, Fergana, and Bukhara regions, as well as in Karakalpakstan and Tashkent. She also took part in the 2019 National Handicrafts Expo in India.

“Recently, I attended the 38th Surajkund International Crafts Mela in India”, says Ms. Azimbayeva. “The exhibition brought together artisans from more than 50 countries. The traditional jewelry displayed at the Uzbek pavilion drew great interest from visitors, and international agreements were signed”.

The craftswoman receives orders for her jewelry from India and other countries. This increases her family’s income and lays the foundation for further business expansion. It is a clear sign that the work of Uzbek jewelers is in demand both domestically and internationally.

Rano Azimbayeva is also passing on her skills to the younger generation. Some of her apprentices have already launched their businesses. Her children, Laziza and Azamat, assist their mother during their free time from their main jobs.

The raw materials, such as turquoise, rubies, and other gemstones, are imported from India, while the rest of the materials are sourced locally.

The craftswoman’s dream is to participate in international exhibitions in Europe and showcase Uzbek national jewelry art to the world.

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Gulom Primov, UzA