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Ainagul Sardarova: craft, patterns, and the tradition of shyrdak making
Ainagul apa is a master shyrdakchy from Kochkor village in the mountainous Naryn region of Kyrgyzstan, an area renowned for its high-quality shyrdaks. She creates each shyrdak in her studio next to her home, where traditional knowledge, patience, and craftsmanship come together.
She has been making shyrdaks since the age of 25, continuing an ancestral practice she was introduced to as a child. Growing up, Ainagul apa learned the craft by assisting her mother, gradually mastering the skills through close observation and hands-on experience. This early training shaped her deep respect for detail and precision.
In the video below you can learn more about Ainagul apa from her own words.
Ainagul apa is known for her exceptional attention to detail and her meticulous standards of quality. She carefully selects materials, refines each pattern, and ensures that every stitch is made with care. Her shyrdaks are created to last—both as functional objects and as carriers of cultural memory. Each piece, often made in collaboration with women from her village, is unique.
Beyond her own practice, Ainagul apa plays an important role in safeguarding shyrdak-making traditions. She actively shares her knowledge, teaches others, and contributes to the promotion of shyrdak locally and internationally through her work with the organization “Altyn Kol”.
