Who are the Turkmen Artisans?
The Turkmen are an ancient tribe that has been nomads, living in round Yurts for centuries across central Asia. The artisans of Turkmen Handicrafts live in the rural north of Afghanistan in clay houses. Weaving is a way of life, everyone learns to weave. 90% of the artisans only speak Turkmeni, the local language. They don't speak Dari or Pashto, the main languages of Afghanistan. This language barrier makes it nearly impossible for them to sell their kilims outside their immediate community. And with little local demand, many struggle to find a market for their work.
The Turkmen people have endured over 40 years of conflict and instability. Since the Taliban takeover in 2021, their lives—especially for women—have become even more restricted. Girls over the age of 12 are banned from attending school. Women can’t work most jobs or even leave their homes without a male escort. They are forbidden to work most jobs. During all the wars they have had almost everything destroyed, their only way to survive is to grow their own food (if they have land) and sell their kilims. Selling kilims outside Afghanistan gives these women a way to earn money while preserving their traditional craft. It offers a thread of hope—supporting their families, putting food on the table, and maintaining cultural pride.
Despite everything, they remain proud and highly skilled artisans. Their weaving is masterful and deeply rooted in tradition. Due to cultural customs, it’s not always possible to show photographs of the women themselves—but their work speaks for them.
The Turkmen Artisans
Who are the Turkmen Artisans?
The Turkmen are an ancient tribe that has been nomads, living in round Yurts for centuries across central Asia. The artisans of Turkmen Handicrafts live in the rural north of Afghanistan in clay houses. Weaving is a way of life, everyone learns to weave. 90% of the artisans only speak Turkmeni, the local language. They don't speak Dari or Pashto, the main languages of Afghanistan. This language barrier makes it nearly impossible for them to sell their kilims outside their immediate community. And with little local demand, many struggle to find a market for their work.
The Turkmen people have endured over 40 years of conflict and instability. Since the Taliban takeover in 2021, their lives—especially for women—have become even more restricted. Girls over the age of 12 are banned from attending school. Women can’t work most jobs or even leave their homes without a male escort. They are forbidden to work most jobs. During all the wars they have had almost everything destroyed, their only way to survive is to grow their own food (if they have land) and sell their kilims. Selling kilims outside Afghanistan gives these women a way to earn money while preserving their traditional craft. It offers a thread of hope—supporting their families, putting food on the table, and maintaining cultural pride.
Despite everything, they remain proud and highly skilled artisans. Their weaving is masterful and deeply rooted in tradition. Due to cultural customs, it’s not always possible to show photographs of the women themselves—but their work speaks for them.