About BibiHanum.com

Bibi Hanum is a trade-mark that belongs to VELVETINE private enterprise that is founded with the initiative of Muhayo Aliyeva and a small group of talented designers and artisans who live in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Our mission is to create economic opportunities for artists and artisans who live in Uzbekistan and Central Asia. Many talented artists and artisans are great at creating crafts and artworks, however they lack the necessary skills to promote and sell their products. We help them expose their products to the world market. 

Our shop also has traditional and contemporary clothing of handwoven ikat fabrics. Ikat fabrics are made by master craftsmen in the Fergana Valley, whose families have employed these techniques for generations. This ancient process involves a complex method of patterning silk or cotton warp threads through resist dying before weaving. Our clothing combines ikat with silk, cotton and velvet and frequently incorporates traditional embroidery produced by women in Nurata, Bukhara and Samarkand. Tambour, chain stitch and satin stitch are the primary stitches employed. The clothing is designed and produced in Tashkent.

The folk art of traditional costume in Uzbekistan derives from a long and distinguished history.  Historically, the most luxurious garments were made for the Emir and his court, who also used robes and kaftans to pay tribute and taxes. Simpler garments without extensive embellishment were made by individuals for the marketplace. Tailors, designers and embroiderers were part of a guild system that was prevalent in Uzbekistan until the first quarter of the 20th century. The strict Soviet imposition of "modernization", however, wreaked havoc with all traditional arts and work in factories replaced handwork. Thus it is only since independence in 1991 that traditions were again thought to be a valuable part of our cultural heritage. In their style and ornamentation Uzbek clothing reflects centuries of cross-cultural trade along the Silk Road network that traversed Central Asia, particularly from Persia, India and China.

Today most women, especially those in more traditional regions have five to ten traditional garments made as part of their dowry. These are often produced by the bride (assisted by her mother and other female members of the family) in order to demonstrate her skill and aesthetic. Alternately they are made by seamstresses of the region specifically for this purpose.  These garments are considered items of status and are displayed with other dowry items such as mats for sleeping (korpecha), pillows, etc. both before and after the wedding. Uzbek women also wear traditional clothing for festive occasions.

Samples of traditional clothing  

	Woman's robe with large red circle design on white background Bukhara, Uzbekistan 1850 - 1875 Silk and cotton, lined with printed cotton From the Rau collection © The Rau Collection
Woman's robe Central Asia 1800 - 1900 Silk and cotton From the Rau collection © The Rau Collection

Who is Bibi Khanum?

Bibi Hanum was a senior wife of Amir Temur (Tamerlane - the Central Asian conqueror). She was very wise and extremely beautiful. Bibi Hanum wanted to please Amir Temur with a gift for his return from a victorious campaign, and decided to build a mosque. The architect who was in charge of building the mosque fell in love with Bibi Hanum and realizing that after the finish of construction, he would never see her again  and hold up the work how he could. The emperor was close, but the gift had not been ready yet, an angry queen called the architect, and he put an ultimatum: queen's kiss in exchange for construction completion. Bibi Hanum had to agree. The kiss was so passionate that left a mark on her cheek. The palace was ready in a few days. Amir Temur returned and was very pleased with the gift, however he noticed the mark of the kiss on Bibi Hanum's cheek. He commanded to capture the architect. But forewarned architect hided from the pursuers on the minaret of built mosque, and the pursuers caught just his pupil who declared: "the teacher made the wings and flew away to Mashhad".

The Bibi Hanum Mosque was built in 1399-1404 and is located in Samarkand.