Monus Topchubaeva

Kyrgyzstan

Year(s) attended: 2008

CACSA for Monus Craftsmen Group

Felt, Weaving, Embroidery

Monus Topchubaeva learned the art of weaving and spinning wool from her grandmother, who was known throughout the region of the Kyrgyz Republic bordering Uzbekistan for the beautiful carpets, feltwork, and sleeping “toshok” or blankets made to furnish a traditional nomadic home. Starting from the age of 8, Monus would help her grandmother spin filaments, wash wool, prepare the dyes, and other simple tasks, quickly graduating to the more complicated arts of handloom weaving by the time she was 12 years old. In 1999, Monus and her husband and five children moved from her natal village to a suburb of Bishtek, the Kyrgyz capital, where she became a member of CACSA, a local craft support organization, attending international trade fairs and exhibitions to display her beautiful carpets and felting arts. Today, Monus keeps the tradition alive through a family-based workshop in which she and her family members produce the traditional hand-woven rugs and clothing as well as more contemporary items such as furniture covers and bags for which she has won prizes and recognition throughout the world.