The Artisan
Tashkent, Uzbekistan 2012 A workshop in the old city
The shop, though nondescript from the street, was filled with beautiful coats, purses, scarves and myriad accessories to delight the heart of any woman. The owner stood silently, his hands behind his back, as we, especially Torie, fingered fabrics or held a purse to the light, or inspected the tightness of the needle work and the fineness of the silk.
Dim light filtered from the tiny window that opened onto a narrow, walled residential street. This young woman sat at her work with bent head. She worked quickly, her needle spreading the colorful design across the fabric. She was the only needle-worker. She had no radio to help her pass the time. Just the darkened room and her own thoughts. What were they?
Suzani is the Uzbek word for embroidery or needlework.